Video summary
For Schmidt, returning to the mound against the Twins was an emotionally charged experience that he described as difficult to articulate but undeniably exciting after a long and arduous journey. He acknowledged the inevitable ups and downs throughout his recovery process, emphasizing how much he valued being back on the field. The return felt like a significant milestone, marking the end of a challenging period where patience and resilience were required to navigate the physical and mental hurdles of his comeback.
Managing the intense emotions associated with this debut required Schmidt to consciously regulate his adrenaline levels, drawing on lessons from his initial appearance. He admitted that he initially felt "dry humped" by the excitement of seeing Carlos Correa in the lineup, causing his heart rate to spike before he could settle down. Once he found his rhythm, however, he felt his stuff was sharp and effective, noting that while there were some frustrating three-ball counts, his fastball and cutter performed well overall. He expressed a desire to locate pitches in better areas rather than spraying them around the zone, but remained confident in the quality of his delivery once he slowed the game down mentally.
Beyond the mechanics of pitching, Schmidt highlighted the profound support system that has been instrumental in his recovery, specifically crediting his family for every step of the way. His father was able to attend the game, a moment Schmidt cherished as a testament to the sacrifices made by those who love him. He expressed deep gratitude for having a supportive family that stood by him through the entire process, noting that he would not be where he is today without their unwavering presence and encouragement. This familial bond provided a crucial foundation of strength, allowing him to face the pressures of professional baseball with a sense of security and appreciation.
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Claire, what was it like for you to get
back out there?
>> Yeah, I mean, exciting, I think. Um,
hard to put into words, obviously. I
think emotional um
obviously a long journey and not an easy
journey at all. I mean, obviously
there's a lot of ups and downs
throughout the process, but really good
to be able to get back out there.
>> How do you manage your emotions in that
situation? Yeah, it's a I mean I said it
earlier, but it's a lot like your debut
where it's like thankfully I'm a little
bit more comfortable now, but I think
the similar emotions like a surge of
adrenaline and um trying to slow the
game down as much as you can and be
present as possible and um not let the
game speed up. So, just trying to slow
it down as much as possible.
How
>> you feel about your stuff with the the
adrenaline and all that that felt really
good. I think uh um in traditional
bullpin fashion, I got a little bit dry
humped in the first. I thought Carlos
was coming out and I was excited and um
adrenaline was at a high and then I had
to sit back down and settle down for a
second. So, but after that I thought the
stuff was really good. I thought, you
know, for the most part, obviously
frustrating with a couple three ball
counts, but um I thought the fast ball
was good, cutter was really good, and
you know, spraying it, not spraying it
around a lot, but just, you know, wish I
could be in some better areas, but
overall, I thought my stuff was sharp.
>> You mentioned your family being
supportive throughout this whole process
earlier. Anybody make it out here today?
Yeah, my uh my dad was able to make it
out. He's a he's a trooper, man. He he
doesn't, you know, they always try to
have one family member at my outing.
I've been so blessed and so lucky to
have, you know, a family who's
supportive of me and um has been with me
every step of the way. And I I, you
know, I know I wouldn't be where I'm at
without them. And so, um such a blessing
to be able to have a family that makes
sacrifices like that. and and you know
I'm grateful for him to be there today.