The New York Yankees could soon add some firepower to the bullpen.
New York’s bullpen has been a problem this season, as the Yankees have been rotating some relievers to try to find success. As the Yankees’ bullpen has continued to struggle, insider Chris Kirschner of The Athletic believes the team could soon call up hard-throwing right-hander Yovanny Cruz.
“Yovanny Cruz, who impressed Yankees brass in spring training, has pitched well in the minors. Like Lagrange, he has an overpowering fastball and strikeout stuff,” Kirschner wrote. “He could become an option at some point. But the Yankees need their starters to pitch deeper into games so they aren’t forced to use some of their depth bullpen arms.”
Cruz’s fastball averages 100.6 MPH, and it tops out at 101.5 MPH. Adding that kind of velocity to the bullpen could be an enticing option for the Yankees amid their bullpen struggles.
New York signed Cruz to a minor-league deal in November, and he pitched well in spring training to show he could belong in the MLB bullpen. The right-hander had previously been in the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres’ organization, but command was an issue.
In 2024, with the Red Sox’s Double-A team, he posted a 3.03 ERA and struck out 72 guys in 59.1 innings, but walked 44 batters. To begin the year in Triple-A, Cruz is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 7.1 innings, while striking out 11 and walking only two batters.
Yankees Bullpen Beginning to be an Issue
New York has struggled to find middle-inning relievers as the Yankees have had a bit of a revolving door.
The top-five relievers of David Bednar, Camillo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, and Brent Headrick have been solid. Yet, after them, it’s been an issue as Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough aren’t trusted in high-leverage situations. Jake Bird, Yerry De los Santos, and Angel Chivilli have all struggled.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, meanwhile, said there are opportunities for relievers to take a spot and run with it.
“There’s opportunity for these guys to continue to grab roles,” Boone said. “Hopefully, some real key people emerge for us.”
Pitching coach Matt Blake, meanwhile, believes relievers are always volatile, which makes it hard for teams.
“It’s a volatile market in general,” Blake said in spring training. “You see a lot of (teams) that spend high dollars on relievers, and it doesn’t always pan out. You can find some under-the-radar guys with good stuff that haven’t gotten opportunities, or maybe you change something about the way they’ve been operating, and you catch lightning in a bottle.”
For now, the Yankees will continue to try to find some answers in the bullpen outside of the high-leverage relievers.
Cole Begins Rehab Start
New York could get some positive news on the pitching front with the addition of Gerrit Cole.
Cole is set to begin a rehab start on Thursday when he’ll take the mound for Double-A Somerset.
“It’s one step at a time,” Boone said. “We’re looking forward to him starting on Friday, and then we’ll build him from there. Even when he gets back to us [in the Majors], we’ll probably be conservative with him.”
Cole is expected to throw around 40 pitches in the first step in his return to pitching on the big league mound.
100MPH Pitcher Considered an ‘Option’ for Yankees Amid Bullpen Struggles