New Yankees Pitching Woes and Odd Update on Injured $325 Million Slugger
New York, NY – The New York Yankees’ starting rotation, which propelled them to their 41st World Series appearance in 2024, will look drastically different in 2025. The team is dealing with major setbacks, including the loss of ace Gerrit Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young winner, who is sidelined after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Additionally, left-hander Nestor Cortes was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for closer Devin Williams.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is also out for at least three months with a high-grade lat strain. Meanwhile, Marcus Stroman, who struggled late last season and was left off the Yankees’ postseason roster, will return out of necessity due to the team’s mounting pitching injuries.
The rotation depth has taken another hit with Chase Hampton, the Yankees’ second-ranked pitching prospect, undergoing Tommy John surgery, ruling him out for the entire season.
Another Starter Could Miss Opening Day
Now, another Yankees pitcher—2017 first-round pick Clarke Schmidt—appears likely to begin the 2025 season on the injured list.
Schmidt, originally projected as the team’s fifth starter but now likely their No. 3 option, has been dealing with a sore back followed by shoulder discomfort. He was scratched from a scheduled start last week and hasn’t pitched in a spring training game since.
On Friday, manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that Schmidt might not be ready for Opening Day. Though the team insists his back and shoulder are fine, he remains behind in his throwing program. During a live batting practice session on Thursday, Schmidt threw just 32 pitches, significantly fewer than other starters at this stage of spring training.
According to the New York Post, “For reference, Max Fried threw 32 pitches in a two-inning live batting practice session on Feb. 20, a full month before Schmidt reached that point.”
As the Yankees prepare for their season opener against the Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 27, Schmidt is expected to remain in Tampa, continuing to build up his pitch count to 70-80, rather than leaving the team short on starting options.
Strange Theory Emerges About Stanton’s Elbow Issues
The Yankees also received a peculiar update on slugger Giancarlo Stanton’s injury status. The postseason home run hero is dealing with severe tendon pain in both elbows and has been receiving PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections in hopes of avoiding season-ending surgery.
Stanton, now in the 11th season of his massive 13-year, $325 million contract signed with the Miami Marlins, reportedly suffered the injury due to questionable advice from a former Yankees staff member.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there is speculation that Stanton’s elbow issues may have been caused by a bat change recommended to him last season.
“There’s a theory going around that Giancarlo Stanton’s bat might be the cause of his elbow tendon issues. While Yankees doctors reportedly dismiss the idea as far-fetched, the theory is still making the rounds,” Heyman wrote. “It seems a bat switch was recommended to Stanton last year. The person who made the recommendation is no longer with the Yankees.”
Alexander Wilson of Empire Sports Media further explained how altering equipment mid-season could negatively impact an athlete.
“In Stanton’s case, that adjustment might have disrupted his balance and swing mechanics, unknowingly placing additional strain on his elbows,” Wilson wrote. “Even the smallest changes can sometimes lead to significant consequences.”
As the Yankees navigate these injury concerns, they will need to find solutions quickly to stay competitive in the AL East.
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