Clarke Schmidt provides promising injury update, but Yankees return is far off

As the New York Yankees prepare for the postseason, a process that must include deciding on their playoff rotation, some good news has emerged regarding their potential 2026 rotation. Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who underwent Tommy John surgery on July 11, is recovering nicely and just reached a notable physical milestone along his journey back to the mound.

Schmidt, 29, factored into New York’s rotation this season following a 2024 campaign in which he went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA for the Yankees in 16 starts. After starting 2025 on the IL with right rotator cuff tendinitis, Schmidt recovered and went 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA before having to bow out once again (this time due to forearm soreness) and go under the knife.

The former No. 16 overall pick has now undergone Tommy John twice in his life (the first time coming in May 2017, a month before the Yankees drafted him), but the latest update for Schmidt sounds positive.

Promising update emerges on Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt 

According to NY Daily News Sports’ Gary Phillips, Schmidt now has full range of motion back in his throwing arm, and he is hoping to start playing catch this winter.

In an ESPN report from late July, Schmidt was quoted as saying that he aimed to return for the Yankees in 2026 after the All-Star break. 

"When they say Tommy John, it's kind of like an umbrella term these days, but from what I was told and everything that I've been informed of, it's kind of the best case of the Tommy John," Schmidt said of his surgery, per ESPN. "So around a year, like 11 to 12 months, 11 to 13 months, so very encouraged by that. I think if it was full reconstruction, it would be looking at 14, 16 months. So I think we dodged a major bullet with that. Obviously it's hard to circle a day now, but a little bit after the All-Star break. I know that I'll definitely be a factor next year. So very encouraged by that."

Schmidt also shared specific details in July about the nature of his surgery, which was performed by Dr. Keith Meister. "They didn't have to go in and put a new ligament in,” Schmidt said, per ESPN. “Basically, what happened was the ligament was kind of tearing off the bone, so they just reattached it to the bone and they didn't have go to add any ligament. So that was very encouraging on that part."

Schmidt hasn’t had a fully healthy season since 2023, when he made 32 starts for the Yankees but didn't excel (9-9 record, 4.64 ERA). 2026 will be Schmidt's third arbitration year out of four (he’s earning $3.6 million in 2025). Obviously, his injury status will diminish his capacity to demand a significant arbitration raise over the next two years. 

With Gerrit Cole also expected to return in 2026, New York’s rotation for next season is hard to predict at the moment, but there should be a number of arms to choose from, especially given the emergence of Cam Schlittler and the ongoing development of Will Warren.

With how Schmidt’s last couple of years have gone, the Yankees probably aren’t banking on him being a sure thing in 2026, which would make any contributions he does offer something akin to a pleasantly surprising surplus.