Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Clarke Schmidt has been diagnosed with a UCL tear and will likely undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.
It’s a brutal development for the Yankees, and fantasy managers alike, as Schmidt had pitched to a strong 3.32 ERA across 78 2/3 innings (14 starts) this season before hitting the injured list earlier this week with forearm tightness. The 29-year-old’s absence puts some additional strain on New York’s rotation heading towards the trade deadline. Allan Winans and Cam Schlittler are the most likely candidates to fill his rotation spot. Given the timing of the procedure, Schmidt is unlikely to make it back until the late stages of the 2026 season.