New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt revealed that a change in his pitching grip contributed to the elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in July. Reflecting on last season’s challenges, Schmidt believes the adjustment he made in the middle of the season placed unexpected strain on his forearm, leading to the surgery.
During the season, Schmidt and the Yankees’ pitching coaches decided to alter the grip on his sweeper pitch to generate more horizontal movement, especially against right-handers. To achieve this, Schmidt had to grip the ball more firmly, which intensified pressure on his forearm muscles and tendons.
I think the No. 1 thing that played a factor was mid-season grip changes,
Schmidt said in an interview with the Daily News.
You make grip changes, and you start to really put different stress on different areas of your forearm and stuff like that.
Despite the discomfort, Schmidt continued using the new grip because the results were effective. He described the situation as a “double-edged sword,” given the pitch’s improved performance but the toll it took on his arm.
I was getting a lot of really good results with it, so it’s hard to be like, ‘Oh, let’s stop throwing it,’
Schmidt noted.
It was like a double-edged sword.
Last season, Schmidt started 14 games, finishing with a 4-4 record and a 3.32 ERA before the injury sidelined him.
Rehabilitation Goals and Determination to Return Strong
Looking ahead to the 2026 MLB season, Schmidt has outlined his recovery objectives with hopes of pitching again at the major league level and contributing during the latter part of the season and playoffs. He plans to remain in Tampa following spring training to focus on his rehabilitation.
Obviously, I have goals and check marks that I want to hit, as far as when I want to come back and stuff like that. But it’s not written in stone,
Schmidt explained, emphasizing flexibility in his timeline.
Schmidt expressed deep motivation and a steadfast mindset during his recovery process, prioritizing the present and focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the injury.
You have to have goals and things that push you, but you can’t look too far ahead or reflect on the past, like, ‘Dang, I wish this didn’t happen’ or ‘Why me?’ It’s not like that at all,
he said.
I’m very hungry. I’m very driven, maybe more driven than I’ve ever been. Everything that I do right now is for baseball.
It’s like 24/7, this is all I care about. All I think about is recovering and getting back. So I don’t know how long I’ll feel like that, but I definitely feel very, very motivated, and I’m very happy with where I’m at.
Yankees Manager Shares Updates on Rotation Status
The New York Yankees enter the 2026 season as strong World Series contenders but are managing key injuries in their pitching staff. Manager Aaron Boone recently provided an update on the expected composition of the starting rotation as the team prepares for their opening game on March 25 against the San Francisco Giants.
I don’t think Carlos is going to be very long,
Boone stated during a February 8 appearance on MLB Network Radio, referring to pitcher Carlos.
“We’re in Tampa now. I watched him throw his bullpen two days ago, so he’s already well into his mountain progression. We’re not going to rush him back.”
Obviously, we want to make sure he’s built up properly, but I don’t expect it to be too long. Gerrit’s been doing great, but again, not something where we’re going to certainly rush him. But yeah, I do feel good about it. We’re talking about probably [Max] Fried, [Cam] Schlittler, [Will] Warren, [Ryan] Weathers, and [Luis] Gil to start the season in the rotation.
Boone’s remarks suggest a cautious but optimistic approach for the Yankees’ rotation, balancing recovery timelines with a strong roster assembled to contend throughout the season.
With Carlos Rodón & Gerrit Cole working their way back to the rotation, the @Yankees are feeling good with how their staff looks heading into Spring Training.
🔗 https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/oWgcsCuguX
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 8, 2026
