Aaron Boone, Yankees 'excited' to have Clarke Schmidt back in the rotation

Clarke Schmidt strolled into the Yankees’ clubhouse Wednesday afternoon with an easy smile on his face.

Clad in a brown corduroy jacket, a shirt and dark pants, he did not appear anxious or excited. Rather, he appeared casual. Relaxed. As if he did not have a care in the world.

Which is fine. Schmidt’s manager had more than enough ebullience for the both of them.

Because, for a team whose offseason plan for its starting rotation had to be reconfigured during spring training due to injuries, having Schmidt make his 2025 debut Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium against the Royals was a boon.

“Really excited,” Aaron Boone said when asked about Schmidt before the game. “He’s a really good pitcher. We’ve seen him grow before our eyes over the last several years, and really over the last couple years establish himself as a really good starter. He’s important to our team and excited to get him back.”

With good reason.

Entering the series finale against the Royals, Yankees starters ranked 28th in the majors with a 4.98 ERA. Only Colorado (5.05) and Baltimore (5.54) were worse.

And without Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) and Luis Gil (strained right lat) available for the foreseeable future, there was no time like the present for the Yankees to add a quality arm to the rotation.

It is something of an open question as to when Gil will start his rehab process. During his availability, Boone said Gil has not started throwing because the Yankees “think we need another 10 days. He’ll probably start in about 10 days, his throwing program.”

Gil, who was placed on the 60-day injured list at the end of March, recently had a MRI that showed the lat was healing but had not reached the “checkmark,” according to Boone, that would allow him to start throwing.

“It’s going how it should,” Boone said. “We just need another 10 days.”

Until Gil is ready – the Yankees have targeted June for the reigning American Rookie of the Year to make his season debut – Schmidt is the No. 3 starter behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Schmidt went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts last season. After missing the start of this season due to right shoulder tendinitis, he made two rehab starts with Double-A Somerset in which he struck out 11 in 7 1/3 innings while allowing just four hits and a walk.

“Everything went good and I’m feeling good so I’m happy where everything’s at,” Schmidt said on Saturday afternoon. “I feel good. My last two starts have been productive down there in Somerset. Happy with the results and the stuff and the command and everything that goes with it.”

What did he work on?

“(Focused) on my process and trying to take care of what I do as far as getting the pitch count up but also just (focused) on getting into my areas and working on different pitch selections and what plays in certain areas; just really kind of like a spring training so treating it like that.”

Although Boone was non-committal when asked if Schmidt would be on a pitch count, Royals manager Matt Quatraro was expecting to see the righty who limited Kansas City to two runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the ALDS last October.

“There’s enough video out there,” Quatraro said. “If he completely changes his pitch arsenal between last year and this year, then that would be a different story. But there’s enough information and data out there that we’ll know pretty much what we would expect. He still presents a heck of a challenge because he’s really good.”

Notes & quotes: Jonathan Loaisiga threw live batting practice and Boone said the reliever “is in a good spot. He’s got a couple more before he starts his rehab. He’ll travel with us to Tampa so he’ll throw another live this weekend and another one early next week and then be ready to start a rehab assignment. He’s been in a good place for awhile. Excited about where he’s at.” … Boone said “live at-bats could be in play here pretty soon,” for Giancarlo Stanton.