Inside The Pinstripes

Aaron Boone Has Promising Injury Update on Clarke Schmidt

New York Yankees top pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt has resumed his throwing program for the first time since his right elbow strain during spring training

Max Goodman

Yankees pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt has started throwing again, manager Aaron Boone revealed on Saturday.

The right-hander's spring training was cut short when Schmidt was sidelined with a strain in his common extensor tendon. After an extended period of time waiting for Schmidt to be asymptomatic in his elbow, including a second opinion, the prospect was given a cortisone shot earlier this month.

Schmidt won't be ready to rejoin the big-league pitching staff any time soon, but this latest development is a big step in the right direction.

"He's doing well," Boone said before Saturday night's game in Cleveland. "He's thrown now two or three times in his catch play and each time has gone well. So hopefully, he's on his way now and starting to build back up. Obviously, it'll be a while because he's starting from scratch essentially, again, but he's doing well."

Schmidt is New York's top pitching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The 25-year-old made his big-league debut during last year's coronavirus-shortened campaign, making one start and three total appearances. 

The former first-rounder could've been in play for the fifth spot in the Yankees' rotation—a job that Domingo Germán ended up winning with a masterful performance in Grapefruit League play. His elbow injury in late-January ruled him out for the beginning of the regular season.

Regardless of Schmidt's status, as he continues to ramp up in his throwing program, New York will need to wait until the right-hander is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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