In the aftermath of Carlos Rodon’s unfortunate injury, the onus shifts on Yankees promising pitcher Clarke Schmidt to step up.
The New York Yankees received some disappointing news this week when it was announced that pitcher Carlos Rodon would start the 2023 MLB season on the injury list. He is apparently suffering from a mild forearm strain and will be out for a few weeks. However, this setback presents an opportunity for young pitcher Clarke Schmidt to step up and make a name for himself in the majors.
Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German were at loggerheads this spring training, fighting for a spot on the starting roster. As things unfolded, both pitchers are likely to feature in the rotation due to incessant injuries in the Yankees camp. Furthermore, with new pitching variations in the kit, Clarke is all set and pumped up to step up for the team during a crucial time.
Clarke Schmidt Puts Faith On Yanks’ Depth, Ready To Step Up In The Wake Of Injuries
The New York Yankees drafted pitcher Clarke Schmidt first round of the 2017 draft. After showing flashes of brilliance in his minor league, he got promoted to the majors in 2020. However, the pitcher spent the majority of his time on the injury list. Meanwhile, with Carlos Rodon out of commission, Schmidt will likely get his chance to prove himself. He will feature in the starting rotation on the opening day behind Gerrit Cole and Domingo German.
Speaking on the same, Clarke Schmidt said the New York Yankees bullpen has a lot of depth. Hence, he believes the young guys are capable and can step up very well in this kind of situation. On the other hand, this season, Clarke has come up with different variations for the left-handers, the cutters. He is using it well in spring training and intends to use it more and more in the regular season. The pitcher further added that he wants to play aggressively on attack from the front. Moreover, his goal is to be a consistent starter for the team in the long run.
Carlos Rodon To Start 2023 Season On Injury List
The 2023 MLB season is off to a bad start for the New York Yankees. Just two weeks ahead of the opening day, half of the starting roster is sitting on the injury list. On top of that, the club’s most hyped-up acquisition of the off-season, Carlos Rodon, dealt with an injury a couple of days post-spring training debut. As per Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Rodon has a strain on his left forearm and will start the 2023 season on the injury list.
However, the GM ruled out any need for surgery and expects the pitcher to recover by mid to late April. But considering Rodon’s injury history, nothing can be ruled out at the moment. FYI, the pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 due to the same kind of issue. Overall, the Yankees must seek extra precautions and ensure Rodon does not miss out on more than a month of the season.
