With a rock-solid 2.40 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 30 innings in MLB, New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt should have never been sent down in the first place.
Yet, the Bombers decided, on August 1, that his roster spot was best served for someone else.
The organization wanted to stretch Schmidt out as a starter for the final month, and he did well in a couple of Triple-A outings in August.
According to a Yankees insider, he is back with the Yankees.
“Clarke Schmidt back in the #yankees clubhouse,” YES Network’s clubhouse reporter Meredith Marakovits tweeted.
Clarke Schmidt back in the #yankees clubhouse #yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) August 22, 2022
His presence in the clubhouse means he was called up today.
The Yankees rotation is full at the moment, with Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes Jr., Frankie Montas, Domingo German and Jameson Taillon all healthy.
He Seems Ticketed To The Bullpen
It’s not clear, however, if Schmidt will be used as a starter or as a bullpen arm.
There is more of a need in relief at this point, as a result of Albert Abreu‘s recent injury.
It’s possible we see Schmidt back as a reliever, which is the role he has (mostly) fulfilled this year.
He has pitched in 16 games, only one of them being a start.
He has often been deployed as a multi-inning reliever, and has been very solid, with a 1.17 WHIP to go with that 2.40 ERA.
If given an extended opportunity, Schmidt could be one of the Yankees’ most dependable arms, no matter his role.
It’s just a matter of the Yankees believing in his talent and progress made in 2022, which has been substantial.
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