Another Setback for Former Yankees Trade Chip After Surgery News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 18, 2025 6:07 PM ET

Hayden Wesnesk, a former Yankees top pitching prospect is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Sunday. He’ll miss the rest of the 2025 season and likely much of 2026.

Once seen as a future piece of the Yankees' rotation, Wesneski was dealt to the Cubs at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for right-hander Scott Effross, who coincidentally came off the injured list on Sunday. At first, the deal looked like one of those rare win-win swaps at the time: the Yankees got an MLB-ready reliever, and the Cubs added a strike-throwing starter with upside. But Wesneski never quite stuck in the Cubs’ rotation, and by the winter of 2024, he was flipped again. This time, Wesneski was in a package with Isaac Paredes and prospects that brought Kyle Tucker to Chicago.

Houston rolled the dice acquiring Wesneski, hoping a change of scenery and a deep pitching lab would unlock his full potential. Instead, they’re now looking at a long recovery timeline.

It’s a disappointing setback for a pitcher who once rose quickly through the Yankees’ system and flashed the kind of polish that had evaluators penciling him into future rotations. He made his MLB debut with the Cubs in 2022 and posted a 3.18 ERA in six starts. But consistency proved elusive in the years that followed.

For the Yankees, the Effross deal paid off in 2022 but was quickly muted by injury. For Wesneski, it’s been a string of near-breakthroughs and tough turns. Now, he’ll have to regroup and rehab, hoping to reintroduce himself to the league in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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