Clarke Schmidt is finally ready to pitch again after missing time with forearm cramping and major elbow surgery. The Yankees need him now as they fight in a pennant race. He threw 18 pitches in a live session Tuesday and felt good. This is a huge step for a team that has lost Max Fried and Ryan Weathers to injury. The goal is not to turn him back into a starter. The goal is to get him out on the mound for one inning at a time.
The Training Wheels Are Coming Off
Schmidt knows he cannot just go out and throw 100 pitches like he did before his surgery. He has to be smart about his workload. “There’s a little bit of training wheels at first, but I’m coming in in big situations right here, in a pennant race, so I understand that,” Schmidt said, according to NY Post Sports. He knows the pressure is high because the team needs outs right now. He is not here to build a reputation. He is here to get outs and help the team win. Manager Aaron Boone believes Schmidt has a lot of weapons to help the bullpen.
The plan is simple. Pitching coach Matt Blake wants to see Schmidt throw with only one day of rest between outings. This is the real test for his arm. “Having an extra body in September helps to provide some flexibility, but it’s hard to protect one-inning guys like that,” Blake said. The Yankees need to feel comfortable with his arm before they trust him fully. We believe it is best to have him handling the fluctuations and pitch-off-pitch moments. But the stuff looked good today. That is the only thing that matters right now.
Why One Inning Is The Magic Number
Most fans want to see a pitcher go deep into a game. They want to see a guy throw 80 pitches and dominate. But that is not what the Yankees need from Schmidt. They need a guy who can come in, throw 15 or 20 pitches, and get three outs. If he tries to do too much too soon, he could hurt his arm again. The Yankees are in a playoff race, so there is no room for error. If Schmidt can stay healthy and throw good pitches for one inning, he becomes a key piece. He does not need to be a star. He just needs to be reliable.
Max Fried is also awaited by the squad, with a potential return from the injured list on Saturday. Fried threw four innings and 60 pitches in live batting practice Monday. “Potentially,” Boone said. However, we will observe our position as the next couple days unfold. The Yankees have a lot of moving parts right now. They need every arm they can get. Schmidt’s return is not just about adding a name to the roster. It is about adding depth to a bullpen that is stretched thin. If he can handle the pressure of a pennant race, he will be a hero for the fans.
The next few days will tell the whole story.
