Clarke Schmidt’s Return to the Mound

After 14 months and five days since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Clarke Schmidt stepped back onto a big league mound on Wednesday.

Feeling a mix of nerves and an adrenaline boost, Schmidt struck out two batters and allowed a couple of bloop hits during the seventh inning of what resulted in a 5-4 defeat against the Twins in a 13-inning game at Target Field.

“It was emotional,” Schmidt shared, reflecting on his long and challenging journey. “There were plenty of ups and downs along the way, but it felt really good to be back out there.”

With his father watching, Schmidt threw 24 pitches, 13 of which were strikes, clocking a fastball at 95.8 mph.

Now that he’s got that first game behind him, the Yankees hope Schmidt can adjust to a bullpen role and provide support for crucial innings as they approach the playoffs.

He’s likely going to be limited to one or maybe one-plus innings per outing and won’t pitch on consecutive days.

Still, the team believes he can be a valuable asset, especially after what they saw on Wednesday.

“I thought he looked pretty good—actually settled,” Boone commented. “Hopefully, he’ll get even sharper moving forward.”

Carlos Lagrange also made his return, activated from the injured list at Triple-A after a capsular sprain in his right shoulder sidelined him for two and a half months. He struck out two batters in a scoreless inning, reaching speeds of 102.1 mph with his fastball.

While Lagrange was transitioning from starter to reliever to make an impact in the Yankees bullpen, it seems like a challenge for him to reach the majors this year. However, it’s encouraging that he’s back pitching at Triple-A.

“Getting sidelined always makes you nervous, especially with the shoulder,” Boone said. “But he’s responded well during his downtime and buildup. I’m really glad he’s back this year to pitch some and see what we have.”

As for Trent Grisham, he’s making progress with his running after a right hamstring strain. Boone mentioned he’s “gotten up to a pretty decent speed” while also engaging in baseball activities. However, there’s still no timeline for his return.