The New York Yankees’ preparations for the 2025 campaign have hit several bumps in the road as injury concerns mount during spring training. Recent developments with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt have added to the organization’s growing list of health-related worries, though both players have provided reassuring updates about their conditions.
Goldschmidt’s ‘zero’ injury
Veteran slugger Paul Goldschmidt was pulled after just three innings during the Yankees’ March 17 spring matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays due to back soreness—an issue he had been quietly managing for several days. The 37-year-old first baseman, who signed with the Yankees in December on a one-year deal worth $12.5 million, minimized concerns about the condition.
“I can play a few innings; I could have probably played the whole game. In Spring Training, you just try to be smart. This was probably a time [when] there’s no need to push through something and make it more sore,” Goldschmidt explained.
When asked about injury concerns prior to the Opening Day, he rejected it by terming such as risk as “zero.”
“Just trying to continue that for the next week or 10 days,” Goldschmidt said. “For the long season, there’s going to be good and bad times, but getting settled early on and then getting to play in a bunch of games has been good. Have felt pretty solid in there, trying to keep building for Opening Day. I’ll be ready to go for the season.”
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone reinforced that the decision was purely precautionary, noting that the early innings had been particularly lengthy, making it sensible to give Goldschmidt some rest rather than risk aggravating the soreness. Despite this minor setback, Goldschmidt has been impressive this spring, hitting .313 with three home runs and 10 RBIs across 13 games. Both the player and manager expressed full confidence that he’ll be ready for Opening Day.
Schmidt’s shoulder issue seems to be resolving
Clarke Schmidt took a positive step forward in his quest to rejoin the Yankees’ rotation after what the team hopes remains a minor setback.
Instead of making his scheduled start against Toronto at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, Schmidt completed a bullpen session Monday morning at Steinbrenner Field.
The right-hander threw approximately 25 pitches and afterward expressed confidence to reporters, including YES Network’s Jack Curry, stating he feels “great” and emphasized he “wouldn’t be throwing if there was a concern of something major” with his shoulder.
Schmidt remains targeted for his regular-season debut on April 3, which would be the Yankees’ sixth game of the 2025 campaign.
“I think we felt good about it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented Monday afternoon, “but anytime you’re taken out of the game and making sure there’s still that trepidation, especially considering what we’ve been through so far with some guys this spring, hopefully we’re OK.”
The Yankees’ pitching rotation has already been severely depleted this spring. Staff ace Gerrit Cole is sidelined for the entire season following Tommy John surgery, while Luis Gil isn’t expected back until at least June because of a lat strain. Now adding to these concerns, right-hander Clarke Schmidt missed his scheduled March 17 start against the Blue Jays due to shoulder soreness. Manager Boone noted that Schmidt wasn’t “recovering as well as he hoped to,” prompting a cautious approach to his workload.
The 29-year-old Schmidt had already experienced delays in his spring training program because of back stiffness. He’s made just one Grapefruit League appearance so far, on March 11, where he surrendered three runs in 1⅔ innings. Instead of making his scheduled start, Schmidt threw approximately 25 pitches in a bullpen session on March 17. Post-session, he reported feeling “great” and emphasized that he “wouldn’t be throwing if there was a concern of something major” in his shoulder.
Yankees’ Stanton and Laemahieu progressing well
DJ LeMahieu continues making rapid strides in his recovery from a calf injury, according to manager Aaron Boone, who noted the veteran infielder has resumed normal hitting activities in recent days. Despite this progress, the timeline for LeMahieu’s official return to the Yankees remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, reliever Jake Cousins has advanced his throwing program to 90 feet as part of his rehabilitation process. Starter Clarke Schmidt demonstrated encouraging signs during his recent bullpen session, suggesting positive momentum in his recovery.
Giancarlo Stanton has shown increased activity levels, though Boone remained vague about the specifics of the slugger’s workouts or rehabilitation program.
Stanton himself provided more concerning details about his condition, revealing he’s dealing with “severe” tendon injuries affecting both elbows. The designated hitter attributed these issues to swing adjustments he made during the previous season. He acknowledged continued uncertainty regarding when he might be cleared to resume baseball activities.
The power hitter has already undergone three rounds of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments to address the condition that has kept him from swinging a bat since mid-January.
With Opening Day rapidly approaching, the Yankees are acutely aware of the challenges posed by this wave of injuries. The health and performance of key contributors like Goldschmidt and Schmidt will be crucial in determining how the season begins. Nevertheless, the organization maintains cautious optimism, drawing confidence from their roster depth and the emergence of promising young talent as they prepare to navigate the early challenges of the 2025 season.
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