New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt is on his way back from shoulder discomfort he reported in the final stages of spring training.

The ailment was never considered overly serious, but the timing of it forced the Yankees to open the season with Schmidt on the injured list and Carlos Carrasco in their rotation.

With Carrasco’s ERA at 7.71, and the rest of the staff also struggling (with the exception of Max Fried), the Yankees are desperate to get Schmidt back.

He recently took a gigantic step forward, getting his pitch count up to 61 and dominating in his second rehab start.

Final line on #Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt in his 2nd and likely final rehab start before returning to the Bronx: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 K. 61-45. Looked smooth and in control throughout – didn't really labor at any point.

— Matt Kardos (@mattkardos) April 10, 2025

There is a very good chance Schmidt’s next outing comes for the Yankees.

It depends on if the team is ready for a relatively short start, as he is not ready to push it close to 100 pitches or seven innings.

However, with the state of the Yankees’ rotation, it’s a risk they may have to take if they want to remain competitive.

Right now, Schmidt is likely the Yankees’ second-best starter behind Fried, and if he is ready to pitch in the majors, there is no point in having him make a third rehab start.

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