MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The New York Yankees returned right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list on Wednesday, aiming to integrate the 30-year-old into their bullpen for the postseason following his 14-month recovery from elbow surgery.
Schmidt had an internal brace procedure on his ulnar collateral ligament on July 11, 2025, and began minor-league rehab on Aug. 29. The 2017 first-round draft pick was used exclusively as a starter since 2023, but with Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole in the rotation, Schmidt will transition to relief.
“It's been a long journey, a lot of work that goes into this. A lot of long days, early mornings,” Schmidt said before the game against the Minnesota Twins. “I've just been itching to come back."
The Yankees designated popular multi-position player Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Schmidt. Cabrera missed most of the 2025 season with a severe ankle injury.
“I’m blessed to have a lot of guys on this team that you just admire and respect and love doing the job with on a daily basis," manager Aaron Boone said. “Oswaldo’s right there at the top of that list.”
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