Spring training has already brought some early setbacks for the Yankees, but there’s finally a glimmer of good news regarding injuries. According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, both reliever Jake Cousins and starter Clarke Schmidt are progressing well in their recoveries and could be back on the field sooner than expected.
Cousins, who came into camp dealing with a forearm issue, is now close to ramping up his pitching program. This is a promising sign, given his key role in the bullpen last season. Over 38 innings, the 30-year-old right-hander posted a 2.37 ERA with 12.55 strikeouts per nine innings, thanks to his lethal slider-sinker combination.
While the Yankees don’t need him to be ready for Opening Day, getting him back as soon as possible would be a boost. His ability to miss bats and limit damage makes him one of their most intriguing relief options heading into 2025.
Clarke SchmidtAs for Schmidt, he’s on the mend after battling a sore back earlier in camp. He threw a two-up side session on Tuesday and is slated to face live hitters this weekend.
Schmidt has dealt with injuries in the past, including a lat strain that kept him out for a portion of 2024, limiting him to just 85.1 innings. However, when healthy, he was one of the Yankees’ most reliable arms, finishing the season with a 2.85 ERA and career highs in strikeout rate (9.81 per nine innings) and left-on-base percentage (80%).
The Yankees believe Schmidt has the potential to be a key part of their rotation. The primary concern has always been his health and consistency. If he can stay on the mound and build on his solid performance from last season, he could be a crucial stabilizer alongside Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Luis Gil, and Carlos Rodón.
With both Cousins and Schmidt showing positive signs, the Yankees are gaining some much-needed confidence that their pitching depth will be ready when the season kicks off.
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