### Yankees' Clarke Schmidt Faces Major Setback with Second Tommy John Surgery The New York Yankees are grappling with a significant blow to their pitching rotation as Clarke Schmidt, a promising young pitcher, is set to undergo his second Tommy John surgery. This procedure will sideline him for the remainder of the 2025 season and likely a substantial portion of the 2026 season. Schmidt's injury comes after he had been performing well, with a record of 4-4 and a 3.32 ERA in 14 games this season, but he has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including a previous Tommy John surgery in 2017 [https://abc7ny.com/post/new-york-yankees-starting-pitcher-clarke-schmidt-miss-remainder-season-second-tommy-john-surgery/17059653]. ### Breakdown of the Situation 1. **Injury Details**: - Clarke Schmidt has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, necessitating the surgery [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/yankees-pitcher-clarke-schmidt-to-undergo-a-2nd-20765365.php]. - He was placed on the injured list due to forearm tightness, which led to further examinations revealing the severity of the injury [https://www.apnews.com/article/clarke-schmidt-yankees-cf5f8455955ab83d241542fdf8eeb9e6]. 2. **Impact on the Team**: - Schmidt's absence adds to the Yankees' injury woes, as they have already been struggling with a depleted rotation [https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/clarke-schmidt-injury-yankees-starter-likely-facing-tommy-john-surgery-in-another-serious-blow-to-rotation]. - The Yankees are now under pressure to seek a replacement pitcher, with suggestions to target National League aces like Zac Gallen from the Arizona Diamondbacks [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/should_yankees_target_nl_ace_after_clarke_schmidt_injury_news/s1_13132_42438993]. 3. **Future Considerations**: - The recovery timeline for Tommy John surgery typically spans 13-15 months, which means Schmidt may not return until late in the 2026 season [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/yankees-pitcher-clarke-schmidt-expected-to-have-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery]. - The Yankees' management is now faced with the challenge of bolstering their pitching staff ahead of the trade deadline on July 31 [https://www.fansided.com/mlb/3-emergency-arms-yankees-can-trade-for-to-replace-clarke-schmidt]. ### Summary of Findings **Major Conclusions**: 1. Clarke Schmidt's second Tommy John surgery is a significant setback for the Yankees, impacting their pitching rotation for the foreseeable future. 2. The team must act quickly to find a suitable replacement to maintain competitiveness in the league. 3. Schmidt's injury underscores the ongoing challenges the Yankees face with player health and performance. **Supporting Evidence**: - Schmidt's current season statistics: 4-4 record, 3.32 ERA in 14 games [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/yankees-pitcher-clarke-schmidt-expected-to-have-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery]. - Historical context: Schmidt previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, which raises concerns about his long-term viability as a starting pitcher [https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/clarke-schmidt-injury-yankees-starter-likely-facing-tommy-john-surgery-in-another-serious-blow-to-rotation]. - The urgency for the Yankees to make trades before the deadline to fill the gap left by Schmidt [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/should_yankees_target_nl_ace_after_clarke_schmidt_injury_news/s1_13132_42438993].