Latest news with #GeoffHartlieb
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Yankees promote strikeout machine reliever, designate Geoff Hartlieb for assignment
The New York Yankees didn't plan to rely on Clayton Beeter this soon—but baseball doesn't always wait for perfect timing. Back in February, Beeter was sidelined with a nagging shoulder impingement, trailing behind his teammates from the start. Advertisement What followed was months of rehab, pitch counts, and uncertainty as the once-promising spring faded into an uneasy summer. Beeter quietly began a return from the shadows, kicking off his rehab with Low-A Tampa in late April to get back into rhythm. His road back wasn't flashy, but it was steady—each outing a reminder that the Yankees still believed in his arm. Now, with their bullpen worn thin and arms faltering, the Yankees have decided the time is right to test his readiness. On Wednesday, the team officially recalled Clayton Beeter from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hoping for a spark. To make room on the roster, the Yankees designated right-hander Geoff Hartlieb for assignment—a move signaling urgency. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Opportunity Knocks as the Yankees Bullpen Falters Beeter's promotion wasn't just a reward—it was a necessity. The Yankees are patching a bullpen that's running on fumes. Advertisement Fernando Cruz's long-term injury has stripped the relief corps of experience, leaving manager Aaron Boone short on options. At this point, Beeter isn't just depth—he's a potential difference-maker if he can harness his electric stuff effectively. Across 21 innings this year at three minor league levels, Beeter posted a 2.14 ERA, showcasing dominant flashes that caught attention. That includes a lights-out 1.04 ERA in Triple-A Scranton, where hitters struggled to catch up to his rising fastball. The most impressive stat? Thirty-five strikeouts in those 21 innings—a clear sign that his swing-and-miss tools are intact. Advertisement But it wasn't all smooth sailing: Beeter also issued 17 walks, exposing the control issues that have haunted him at times. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Command Will Decide Beeter's Big League Future Strikeouts are sexy, but walks are killers—and Beeter knows that MLB hitters won't miss their chances like minor leaguers. He's a pitcher with pure stuff, but command is still the chasm he must cross to earn trust in high-leverage moments. His fastball-slider combination has looked major-league ready, but missing spots in the bigs often ends in disaster. Beeter's challenge now isn't just proving he's healthy—it's proving he can consistently attack the zone with conviction. Advertisement Think of him like a Ferrari with faulty brakes—thrilling speed, dangerous if not under control at all times. In Triple-A, he could overpower and escape jams. In the Bronx, mistakes don't get second chances—they leave the yard. Yankees Need Beeter to Be More Than a Stopgap The Yankees can't keep riding the same relievers into the ground. Their bullpen desperately needs fresh, reliable arms. Beeter's call-up is as much about hope as it is about necessity; the club is banking on his upside to stabilize things. This isn't a soft landing. Beeter joins a playoff-hunting team that can't afford growing pains in the middle innings. Advertisement He won't be asked to close games, but even a few efficient, scoreless frames could tip the scale in a tight contest. Every outing will matter. The Yankees can't afford to let walks spiral or innings get away from them anymore. If Beeter finds his rhythm and earns Boone's trust, he could become a key cog in a bullpen that's been leaking oil. That's the test now—can Clayton Beeter rise from a rehab assignment to a reliable arm in the Yankees' biggest moments? READ MORE: Yankees' World Series starting outfielder was just cut by the Braves Related Headlines
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fernando Cruz Injury Forces Yankees to Restructure Bullpen With New Addition
Fernando Cruz Injury Forces Yankees to Restructure Bullpen With New Addition originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Yankees' bullpen took a hit . Monday with a move that could have longer-term implications. Advertisement New York selected the contract of right-handed reliever Geoff Hartlieb, bringing the 30-year-old back to the big leagues for the first time since 2022. To make room, the Yankees placed Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Cruz had become a trusted option in Aaron Boone's bridge to the late innings before Monday's oblique injury landed him on the IL. In 35 appearances this season, the 34-year-old righty posted a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 33 innings. That's a 14.7 K/9 rate — elite swing-and-miss stuff, especially against right-handed hitters, who managed just a .167 average off him. His splitter had been a real weapon lately, and even with a few too many walks, New York Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz celebrates beating the Tampa Bay Rays on April 20, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field.© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Hartlieb, a hard-throwing sinker-slider reliever who's been solid at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. In 34 appearances, he's posted a 2.89 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 43.2 innings, limiting opposing batters to a .215 average. Originally a Pirates draft pick, Hartlieb has bounced between organizations but brings swing-and-miss stuff and ground-ball potential to a bullpen that suddenly looks thin. Advertisement They also designated infielder CJ Alexander for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Alexander, acquired last winter in a minor deal, never cracked the Yankees' infield picture. His glove remains solid, but the bat hasn't developed. By DFA'ing the 27-year-old, the Yankees clear a 40-man spot for Hartlieb while potentially risking Alexander on waivers. The promotion of Hartlieb underscores the idea the Yankees can't afford to lose bullpen depth at this point in the season. With the trade deadline just weeks away, Hartlieb's gets a chance to audition on the big stage. Related: Yankees Prospect Earns National Spotlight With Breakout Season Related: Aaron Judge Sends Message to Yankees Front Office Ahead of Trade Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Yankees place RHP Fernando Cruz (oblique) on IL
June 30 - The New York Yankees placed reliever Fernando Cruz on the injured list Monday with a left oblique strain. The move is retroactive to June 28. Cruz returned June 3 from a previous 15-day IL stint, that time for shoulder inflammation. The 35-year-old is 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in 32 appearances out of the bullpen this season. The Yankees also called up right-hander Geoff Hartlieb from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Hartlieb, 31, is on his fifth major-league team, having compiled a 1-1 record with a 7.37 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 79.1 innings of relief with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2019-21), New York Mets (2021), Miami Marlins (2023) and Colorado Rockies (2024). He has a 3-2 record with a 3.34 ERA and two saves in 24 games in Triple-A this season. In a corresponding move, infielder CJ Alexander was designated for assignment to open up room on the 40-man roster. Alexander, 28, was claimed off waivers from the Athletics on June 8 but did not see any action with the Yankees. Across his 10 MLB games with the Athletics and the Kansas City Royals, he has gone 4-for-25 (.160) with no walks or extra-base hits. --Field Level Media
