The New York Yankees celebrated a dramatic walk-off win over the Rangers on Wednesday night, but the celebration didn’t come without questions.
Just minutes after Jasson Dominguez’s homer sealed the victory, the attention shifted to the bullpen. Manager Aaron Boone revealed that reliever Fernando Cruz had been quietly shut down with a shoulder issue, and another arm, Ian Hamilton, continued to struggle.
By the end of the night, uncertainty hung over the relief corps, and now, it appears reinforcements are on the way.
New York Yankees reliever Brent Headrick pitches in spring training.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, the Yankees are calling up left-hander Brent Headrick from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Kuty reported on X.com (formerly Twitter) that Headrick will join the big-league club ahead of Thursday’s series finale against Texas.
The 26-year-old Headrick, acquired off waivers from the Twins this winter, has quietly impressed in the minors. In 10 appearances for the RailRiders, Headrick has posted a 3.38 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 21.1 innings. He offers a second left-handed option in the bullpen alongside Tim Hill and could provide value as a long reliever if needed.
Though the Yankees have not officially announced a corresponding move, several possibilities are in play.
Fernando Cruz, who hasn’t pitched since Saturday, could land on the injured list. Boone said Cruz is dealing with “some shoulder stuff” but downplayed the severity, noting imaging showed no structural damage.
Ian Hamilton, meanwhile, gave up another home run Wednesday and now holds a 6.28 ERA through 14 appearances. The right-hander has a minor league option remaining, which gives the Yankees flexibility if they choose to make a performance-based change.
With the bullpen in transition and more arms returning from the injured list, Thursday may be the first of several moves to come.
