With Gerrit Cole Out, Clarke Schmidt Embraces His Moment in the Yankees Rotation

Since arriving in the majors in 2020, Clarke Schmidt has grown under the guidance of Yankees ace Gerrit Cole — a Cy Young winner, clubhouse leader, and pitching guru whose mentorship helped mold Schmidt into a rising starter. Their relationship has long mirrored that of a big brother and little brother: Cole, the seasoned veteran and teacher; Schmidt, the eager learner absorbing every tip and tendency.

But in 2025, the dynamic has changed. Cole is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing elbow surgery in March, leaving a massive void atop the Yankees rotation. And Schmidt, fresh off a strong but injury-shortened 2024, is being asked to shoulder a much larger role in a rotation that’s quickly gone from loaded to limping.

On Wednesday, Schmidt made his long-awaited season debut after a few weeks delayed by shoulder tendinitis. His performance — 5 2/3 innings, three earned runs, and two strikeouts — wasn’t dominant, but it was more than enough in a 4-3 win over the Royals. Most importantly, it signaled that Schmidt is healthy and ready to contribute again at a time when the Yankees desperately need stability on the mound.

“We lost some guys with Gerrit, who’s hard to replace,” Schmidt said after the game. “But I definitely have to step up. The whole rotation has to step up.”

Through the first few weeks of the season, New York's once-vaunted pitching staff had become a concern. Entering the Kansas City series, the rotation’s ERA stood at an MLB-worst 5.40. Outside of Max Fried — the team’s prized offseason acquisition, who has lived up to expectations — the rest of the group had stumbled. Carlos Rodón has been inconsistent. Marcus Stroman had a brutal start to the year before landing on the IL. Rookie Will Warren has looked overmatched at times, and veteran Carlos Carrasco, now 38, has shown his age. With Luis Gil also on the injured list, the Yankees were down to patching together starts just three weeks into the season.

That’s why Schmidt’s return meant more than just getting a starter back. It offered the possibility of a dependable presence in a staff full of question marks. And even though he labored through a long first inning, he found his rhythm as the game progressed — showing poise, stamina, and command, even while limited to 72 pitches.

“I know my pitch package better,” Schmidt said. “When I was younger, it was just about throwing my best stuff. Now it’s about reading swings, adjusting pitch to pitch. I’m calmer out there.”

The lessons learned from Cole remain ingrained in him, even if the mentor has barely been around the clubhouse since Opening Day. Cole’s locker sits untouched, a quiet reminder that he won’t be returning anytime soon. This time, there’s no savior waiting in the wings. Unlike last year, when Cole returned midseason to stabilize the group, the Yankees must find answers internally — and quickly.

Schmidt’s 2024 hinted at his potential. In 16 starts, he posted a 2.85 ERA before injuries cut his campaign short. The Yankees entered spring training expecting him to be a key rotation piece. But now, with Cole gone and other arms faltering, his role has shifted from complementary to critical.

If Rodón can’t regain his form and Stroman remains sidelined, Schmidt may soon find himself acting as the No. 2 — or even co-ace — by default. His maturity, command, and evolving confidence suggest he might be up for it.

After Wednesday’s win, Schmidt was spotted packing the Yankees’ “championship belt” player-of-the-game award into his bag. Just a few feet away, Cole’s locker remained vacant — a stark visual of the changing of the guard.

Schmidt isn’t pretending he can replace Cole. But if the Yankees are to weather this storm, Schmidt becoming the best version of himself might be just what they need.

Why Buy from sportjerseys.shop?

✅ Customizable options
✅ Fast U.S. shipping
✅ Affordable pricing
✅ Authentic team looks

Whether you're tailgating, watching from home, or gifting the fan in your life — sportjerseys.shop has your back with the best MLB jerseys for 2025.

🛍️ Browse All MLB Jerseys → https://sportjerseys.shop/collections/all-mlb-teams