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TAMPA, Fla. – Paul Goldschmidt is on track for Opening Day, and Clarke Schmidt isn’t too far behind schedule, though he’s due to remain in Florida when the Yankees go north.
With only a handful of days remaining in spring training, here’s a look at how some keys players are progressing after some physical setbacks:
The veteran first baseman hasn’t played since Monday, due to lingering back discomfort – a condition that caused him to limit his participation in an exhibition game to two plate appearances.
On Friday, Goldschmidt said he anticipated returning to the lineup for Saturday’s home exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Beyond that, Goldschmidt could play in two of the Yanks’ remaining three exhibition games or face live pitching in a simulated setting at Tampa.
“The back is basically 100 percent or very, very close to it,’’ said Goldschmidt, who felt his condition was something he could have played through during the regular season.
“I wouldn’t call it an injury,’’ said Goldschmidt, but “when you know you’re preparing for something in the future, it’s a little different trying to gauge how aggressive you’d be with it.’’
Goldschmidt took live batting practice Thursday against Schmidt, and he was due for additional live at-bats Friday on the minor league side.
Given the work he’s getting in, Goldschmidt feels he’s “continuing to build for Opening Day,’’ next Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees' anticipated cleanup hitter, with Giancarlo Stanton (elbow tendinitis) out indefinitely, Goldschmidt, 37, has performed well in camp, batting .313 (10-for-32) with three homers and a 1.077 OPS.
After throwing 32 pitches in a two-inning simulated game Thursday against live hitters, Schmidt arrived at camp Friday “feeling good’’ and happy with his progress.
The tentative plan is for Schmidt to throw again Tuesday, but the right-hander suggested he’d probably pitch in a minor league or sim game instead of starting the Yanks’ final exhibition game against the Marlins at Miami.
A week ago, Schmidt was scratched from a Grapefruit League start (he threw to live hitters a day later) due to shoulder fatigue, impacting his recovery between outings.
“Building up the pitch count is obviously the most important thing right now,’’ said Schmidt, which makes it harder to see him making his 2025 season debut April 3, as originally planned.
Rookie Will Warren and non-roster veteran Carlos Carrasco, who turned 38 on Friday, could fill the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation to start, and Schmidt could be activated by the second week of April.
“I would say it’s probably tougher to reach that (April 3 target vs. Arizona, the season’s sixth game) as far a pitch count goes,’’ said Schmidt. “We might be a little handcuffed, but I don’t think we’re too, too far off it.’’
Assuming Schmidt reaches the 40-pitch range next time out, he’d require at least one more live session to get to the 65-70 range that could allow him to slot back into the Yankees’ rotation.
Earlier in camp, Schmidt was delayed by back soreness.
Schmidt missed three months in 2024 due to a lat strain, and the Yanks are counting on him more than ever, with ace Gerrit Cole (elbow surgery) out for the year and Luis Gil (lat strain) likely sidelined until July.
After batting against Schmidt in Thursday’s sim game, Goldschmidt reported that Schmidt had “good movement on his stuff…he threw well.’’
Ian Hamilton made his 2025 Grapefruit League debut Thursday, pitching one inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sarasota.
The right-handed reliever, sidelined due to an infection, gave up one run on three hits but struck out the side.
At this point, Hamilton figures to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster, though he's next couple of appearances should tell the story of his readiness for Thursday.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees updates on Paul Goldschmidt, Clarke Schmidt
Continue reading...
With only a handful of days remaining in spring training, here’s a look at how some keys players are progressing after some physical setbacks:
Paul Goldschmidt is 'close to’ 100 percent
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The veteran first baseman hasn’t played since Monday, due to lingering back discomfort – a condition that caused him to limit his participation in an exhibition game to two plate appearances.
On Friday, Goldschmidt said he anticipated returning to the lineup for Saturday’s home exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Beyond that, Goldschmidt could play in two of the Yanks’ remaining three exhibition games or face live pitching in a simulated setting at Tampa.
“The back is basically 100 percent or very, very close to it,’’ said Goldschmidt, who felt his condition was something he could have played through during the regular season.
“I wouldn’t call it an injury,’’ said Goldschmidt, but “when you know you’re preparing for something in the future, it’s a little different trying to gauge how aggressive you’d be with it.’’
Goldschmidt took live batting practice Thursday against Schmidt, and he was due for additional live at-bats Friday on the minor league side.
Given the work he’s getting in, Goldschmidt feels he’s “continuing to build for Opening Day,’’ next Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees' anticipated cleanup hitter, with Giancarlo Stanton (elbow tendinitis) out indefinitely, Goldschmidt, 37, has performed well in camp, batting .313 (10-for-32) with three homers and a 1.077 OPS.
Clarke Schmidt still building up pitch count
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After throwing 32 pitches in a two-inning simulated game Thursday against live hitters, Schmidt arrived at camp Friday “feeling good’’ and happy with his progress.
The tentative plan is for Schmidt to throw again Tuesday, but the right-hander suggested he’d probably pitch in a minor league or sim game instead of starting the Yanks’ final exhibition game against the Marlins at Miami.
A week ago, Schmidt was scratched from a Grapefruit League start (he threw to live hitters a day later) due to shoulder fatigue, impacting his recovery between outings.
“Building up the pitch count is obviously the most important thing right now,’’ said Schmidt, which makes it harder to see him making his 2025 season debut April 3, as originally planned.
Rookie Will Warren and non-roster veteran Carlos Carrasco, who turned 38 on Friday, could fill the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation to start, and Schmidt could be activated by the second week of April.
“I would say it’s probably tougher to reach that (April 3 target vs. Arizona, the season’s sixth game) as far a pitch count goes,’’ said Schmidt. “We might be a little handcuffed, but I don’t think we’re too, too far off it.’’
Assuming Schmidt reaches the 40-pitch range next time out, he’d require at least one more live session to get to the 65-70 range that could allow him to slot back into the Yankees’ rotation.
Earlier in camp, Schmidt was delayed by back soreness.
Schmidt missed three months in 2024 due to a lat strain, and the Yanks are counting on him more than ever, with ace Gerrit Cole (elbow surgery) out for the year and Luis Gil (lat strain) likely sidelined until July.
After batting against Schmidt in Thursday’s sim game, Goldschmidt reported that Schmidt had “good movement on his stuff…he threw well.’’
Ian Hamilton returns to Grapefruit League play
You must be registered for see images attach
Ian Hamilton made his 2025 Grapefruit League debut Thursday, pitching one inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sarasota.
The right-handed reliever, sidelined due to an infection, gave up one run on three hits but struck out the side.
At this point, Hamilton figures to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster, though he's next couple of appearances should tell the story of his readiness for Thursday.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees updates on Paul Goldschmidt, Clarke Schmidt
Continue reading...
