After 14 Months, Schmidt Returns to Yankees as Bullpen Arm

The New York Yankees are getting back a key pitcher. Right-hander Clarke Schmidt has completed more than 14 months of injury rehab and has been officially activated from the 60-day injured list, adding a familiar face to the team's pitching staff ahead of the postseason. However, the pitcher, who had gradually established himself as a starter in recent seasons, will not immediately return to the rotation; instead, he will come out of the bullpen.

The Yankees announced that Schmidt has been reinstated to the major league roster after his minor league rehab stint, and to clear a 40-man roster spot, utility player Oswaldo Cabrera was designated for assignment. This means that after more than 14 months away from the majors since July 2025, Schmidt is finally back with the Yankees.

Schmidt underwent surgery last July for a right elbow ulnar collateral ligament issue. Following the surgery, he went through an extended period of throwing, conditioning, and live batting practice, and didn't begin his minor league rehab assignment until late August this year. During that time, he gradually increased the intensity of his outings at Double-A and Triple-A, making his final preparations for a return to the big leagues.

"It's been a long journey with a lot of hard work and long days," Schmidt said before his return, adding that he had been looking forward to stepping back on a major league mound. After spending so much time watching games from the sidelines, he admitted the wait wasn't easy, but now he finally has the chance to compete alongside his teammates again. Schmidt's last major league appearance was on July 3, 2025. Before the injury that year, he made 14 starts, going 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA. Over six seasons with the Yankees, he has appeared in 97 games (23-24, 3.82 ERA), gradually becoming an important member of the team's rotation.

However, upon returning from the injury, the Yankees did not put Schmidt back in the starting rotation; instead, they placed him in the bullpen. The main reason is that the current rotation already includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Cam Schlittler, among others. Additionally, with the regular season entering its final stretch, Schmidt doesn't have enough time to build up the full pitch count required for a starter. Working in shorter stints allows Schmidt to gradually regain his major league rhythm while avoiding the heavy workload of a starter. Schmidt himself acknowledged that short outings are more suitable for him right now, and the team will monitor his physical recovery and gradually reduce the rest time between appearances.

Manager Aaron Boone also expressed a positive view of Schmidt's condition, saying that his pitching has looked good recently and his stuff has been coming back. Although Schmidt will still be on a pitch count and will not pitch on back-to-back days, Boone did not limit him to just one-inning assignments, indicating that the team intends to use the right-hander based on game situations.

Schmidt is no stranger to bullpen work. In 2022, he made 29 appearances, 26 of which were in relief, posting a 2.74 ERA with a .202 opponent batting average. Although he has primarily started in recent years, this past experience gives the Yankees an extra option as they reshape his role before the playoffs.

"I think the role will become more defined as we go," Schmidt said. He knows he is currently a bullpen arm and hopes to gradually earn opportunities in high-leverage situations, especially in key moments of games. However, he also understands that the most important thing now is to build back up step by step, rather than rushing to take on too much work at once.

Schmidt's return also coincides with another roster move by the Yankees. To free up a 40-man roster spot for him, the team designated Cabrera for assignment. The versatile player had served as an important reserve in previous seasons, missed most of the 2025 season due to a severe ankle injury, and spent most of this year at Triple-A. Boone publicly praised Cabrera's attitude and relationships with teammates, and expressed hope that he will continue to have a good major league career.

Schmidt's return comes at a critical time as the season winds down. The team has already begun adjusting its roster and pitching configuration for the postseason, and the former starter will rejoin the club in a different capacity.