Yankees Announce Pitching Reinforcement is Nearing a Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 18, 2025 2:18 PM ET

The New York Yankees’ pitching depth has reached a breaking point, to they are embracing any good news they can get. Sunday, they some reassuring news that could help their pitching depth. JT Brubaker’s is set to begin a rehab assignment today with High-A Hudson Valley, the Yankees announced.

It’s a small but significant step for the veteran right-hander after more than a year lost to injury. It could also be significant for the Yankees, who are desperate for pitching depth.

Brubaker, 31, hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2023 and later suffered fractured ribs that delayed his comeback even further. The Yankees acquired him from Pittsburgh last March, hoping he’d be ready to contribute by midseason.

His big-league résumé is modest. He has a 9-28 record with a 4.99 ERA across three seasons with the Pirates, but his strikeout numbers and ability to eat innings made him a potential back-end or spot starter.

Right now, the Yankees just need insurance against any more injuries.

The rotation is running thin. Gerrit Cole is done for the year, Marcus Stroman remains stuck on the injured list , and Luis Gil is just starting to ramp up after missing time with a spring training lat strain . That leaves Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Will Warren, and Ryan Yarbrough, who has moved into the rotation as an opener, holding down a rotation that’s walking a very thin line.

If Brubaker shows he’s healthy and can build up his workload, the Yankees will have a badly needed reinforcement to slot in whenever and wherever they need it. He can be a starter, long man, insurance policy. At this point, they’ll take any form of reliable innings.

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

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