Yankees Make Roster Decision After Clarke Schmidt Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 6:38 PM ET

The New York Yankees’ pursuit of stability atop the American League East has been dealt yet another blow, as emerging rotation stalwart Clarke Schmidt is set to miss the remainder of the season following an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow.

Schmidt exited his Thursday start against the Toronto Blue Jays after just three innings, reporting forearm discomfort.

An MRI on Friday confirmed a torn UCL, and manager Aaron Boone indicated that Tommy John surgery is “pretty much inevitable,” sidelining Schmidt through 2026.

With Gerrit Cole also out for the season, AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gill on the shelf with a lat strain and Ryan Yarbrough still recovering from an oblique strain, the Yankees' rotation was already stretched thin.

With Schmidt almost certain to undergo Tommy John surgery, the Bombers have responded by summoning right‑handed pitching prospect Cam Schlittler for his Major League debut early next week.

Yankees planning to call up prospect Cam Schlittler for MLB debut after Clarke Schmidt injury https://t.co/oMmxR2fX1P pic.twitter.com/sZ3CcC7vAk
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 5, 2025

Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Northeastern University, twenty‑four‑year‑old Schlittler will get first crack at filling Schmidt’s rotation spot.

Across Double‑A Somerset and Triple‑A Scranton/Wilkes‑Barre this season, Schlittler has compiled a 3.52 ERA over 14 starts, striking out 99 batters in 76.2 innings and allowing just 24 runs.

The Yankees open a three‑game series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday and Schlittler is expected to take the mound in one of the first two games.

Heading into Saturday's contest with the New York Mets, the Yankees sat at 48-40, two games behind the Blue Jays for the AL East lead and tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for second place.

They have scored 450 runs while allowing 351, yielding a +99 run differential, the best in the division and second best in the American League.

Yet, New York is trending downward, losers of five straight and posting a 3-7 mark over their last ten games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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