Yankees Expected to Shakeup Bullpen After Second Straight Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 8:09 PM ET

About the only thing that went right for the New York Yankees on Monday in Detroit was that Carlos Rodón actually pitched into the seventh inning. That offered some relief for a bullpen that’s been heavily taxed recently. Even the plan to have Adam Ottavino eat a couple of innings fell apart quickly.

But on Tuesday, the Yankees will likely have a fresh arm to add to the mix.

Right-hander Ian Hamilton is with the team in Detroit after a rehab stint in the minor leagues and is expected to be reinstated from the injured list, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. That means Ottavino will once again be designated for assignment.

It will be the 39-year-old’s second DFA in five days.

Ottavino had been re-signed Monday morning after being released over the weekend, a move designed to eat some innings after the bullpen covered 11 1/3 frames between Saturday and Sunday in Pittsburgh. But his return was short-lived. He faced three batters, walked two, struck out one, and failed to get out of the inning.

It was a quick answer to a short-term problem for the Yankees, who are familiar and comfortable with Ottavino. It’s also a reminder that Yankees manager Aaron Boone is still figuring out how to cover innings until their full bullpen stabilizes after starting the season with five relievers on the injured list.

Hamilton, 29, offers a more sustainable option. He's coming off a quietly strong 2024 in which he posted a 3.82 ERA over 37.2 innings across 35 appearances. More importantly, the advanced metrics suggest his stuff plays.

Last season, Hamilton held opposing hitters to an average exit velocity of 89.5 mph, with just a 3.8% barrel rate. His expected wOBA (.301) nearly mirrored his actual (.310), signaling that the contact he allowed rarely came with damage. He also posted a 24.9% strikeout rate and had an above-average whiff rate on his slider, a pitch that gives the Yankees much-needed swing-and-miss potential in the middle innings.

Hamilton's spring got off to a late start because of an infection.

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

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