Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt Faces Yearlong Absence After Tommy John Surgery

Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt underwent an internal brace Tommy John surgery on July 11, 2025, after experiencing forearm soreness and elbow issues during the season. Unlike a full ligament reconstruction, his procedure involved reattaching the ligament to the bone, which is considered a best-case scenario and is expected to shorten his recovery time to approximately 11 to 13 months. Schmidt anticipates returning to play in the second half of the 2026 season and is optimistic about being a significant contributor then, though he acknowledges the recovery process will be challenging and emotional. Prior to the injury, Schmidt had been performing well, posting a 3.32 ERA and demonstrating strong form after recovering from a lat strain that limited his 2024 season. His surgery adds to the Yankees' rotation challenges, which already included season-ending injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil. Schmidt's positive update offers hope for the Yankees' pitching depth heading into the latter part of next season.