RHP Eric Reyzelman, who is viewed as the Yankees’ next bullpen weapon, is likely to get a call to join the MLB team this year.
While the New York Yankees battle for supremacy in the 2025 MLB season, their player development machine continues churning out potential difference-makers. Among the organization’s emerging talents, Eric Reyzelman has distinguished himself as the bullpen prospect most likely to impact the big-league roster next. Currently ranked as the organization’s No. 22 prospect, the 23-year-old right-hander has been delivering compelling performances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre that suggest he’s nearly ready for pinstripes.
From rejection to revelation
Reyzelman’s baseball journey bears little resemblance to the typical elite prospect path. Cut twice from his high school squad, his early career offered few hints of professional potential. Yet through remarkable perseverance, he gradually carved an opportunity in collegiate baseball, beginning at the University of San Francisco before a transformative transfer to LSU altered his trajectory.
“I was a guy who came into the game in certain situations and threw 15 fastballs and then sat down. That’s something that I’m not anymore, and I’m proud of the work I’ve been able to do with our development staff here. They’re second to none,” Reyzelman reflected, emphasizing his growth as a pitcher.
When the Yankees selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, they acquired a flame-thrower with undeniable raw talent but limited innings under his belt. A previous Tommy John procedure during his college years had already tested his resilience, and shortly after joining the Yankees system, he encountered another significant obstacle: a series of back surgeries necessitated by a cyst that sidelined him for substantial portions of his first two professional seasons.
The 2024 emergence
Despite these medical setbacks, 2024 marked Reyzelman’s professional arrival. He blazed through three minor league levels, concluding his campaign at Double-A Somerset with remarkable numbers: a 1.16 ERA complemented by 63 strikeouts across just 38 2/3 innings. This dominance captured the attention of Yankees’ decision-makers and secured him an invitation to major league spring training for 2025.
“Going out and seeing how it did play, and how the results looked,” Reyzelman said, “at first, it was a shock.”
The transformation from one-dimensional pitcher to a multi-faceted weapon had been completed. His repertoire now featured three effective offerings: a blistering fastball touching 96-99 mph, a sharp slider, and a developing changeup that kept hitters off-balance. His ability to generate swings and misses quickly established him as a potential high-leverage bullpen asset within the organization.
Triple-A success in 2025
With health concerns in the rearview mirror and full integration into the Yankees’ development system, Reyzelman has maintained his momentum. His first 9.2 innings at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre have yielded a respectable 2.79 ERA with 11 strikeouts while surrendering just one home run. Though control remains a work in progress—evidenced by six walks—his swing-and-miss stuff continues to tantalize evaluators.
MLB.com’s prospect experts Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra, and Jonathan Mayo noted, “A 2022 fifth-rounder from Louisiana State, he’s on the verge of claiming a bullpen spot in New York with a fastball that reaches 99 mph with ride and a tight low-80s slider.”
Organizational confidence building
Within the Yankees’ player development structure, Reyzelman has garnered significant support. Brett DeGagne, Yankees pitching coordinator who previously worked with him at Double-A, offered this assessment: “I think from everything we’ve seen and how well he’s performed, I think the sky is kind of the limit with him. We’ve had some really good reliever prospects come through the organization, and he’s up there in that echelon of those guys. He’s going to be a factor in the future.”
Spring training appearances further solidified his rising stock. During one particularly electric outing against Philadelphia, Reyzelman struck out the side, reaching 98.4 mph with his heater and generating five swings and misses on just eight pitches. Manager Aaron Boone, clearly impressed, remarked, “That was a dominant inning right there.”
Boone didn’t shy away from industry terminology when evaluating the prospect: “That looked like a guy. It’s really good stuff, easy strikes, presence. Really strong outing.”
Refining the arsenal
Despite his rapid ascent, Reyzelman remains committed to technical refinement. His changeup represents his primary developmental focus, with recent adjustments aimed at increasing velocity to better mirror his fastball and deceive hitters. His slider has also evolved, now featuring improved command that allows him to throw it for strikes rather than solely as a chase pitch.
“We’ve been able to do some crazy, crazy, things,” Reyzelman said regarding his development process with the Yankees’ pitching architects. “The slider and the changeup have come a long way.”
Control issues remain his primary developmental hurdle, as his 4.8 BB/9 rate indicates. However, considering his limited professional innings and continuous improvement, the organization maintains confidence that his command will sharpen with additional experience.
The Bronx beckons
While Reyzelman didn’t make the Opening Day roster, industry observers and team insiders alike anticipate his major league debut during the 2025 campaign. As bullpen attrition inevitably occurs through the marathon season, his name sits atop the internal promotion candidates list.
“My real goal isn’t to pitch in the major leagues,” Reyzelman stated. “It’s to win the World Series, and it’s to be on a World Series-winning team and to have a real role in helping them do that. Whether [a debut is] this year, whether that’s next year, whether that’s a month from now or two years, I know that I’m not changing a thing that I’m doing.”
Eric Reyzelman’s progression from high school castoff to Yankees’ premier bullpen prospect exemplifies baseball’s unpredictable development paths. His combination of elite velocity, improving secondary pitches, and mental fortitude has positioned him for a potential impact role in the Bronx. As he continues dominating Triple-A competition, his major league arrival seems increasingly imminent. For a Yankees team with championship aspirations, Reyzelman represents not just organizational depth but potentially a crucial late-inning weapon as they pursue October glory.
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