ATLANTA — With the second half underway, the Yankees are taking a creative approach this Friday, handing the ball to reliever Ian Hamilton to open the series in their weekend set against the Braves. This marks only the second opener assignment of his Yankees tenure, following three in 2023—making this move a notable shift in strategy.
He opened first time on July 1, 2023 against the Cardinals. He took the mound before Luis Severino and ended giving up a home run but the Yankees won it 6-2. This followed another on August 9 with Severino following him.
The “opener” concept was introduced by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, with the intention of providing a boost to the “bulk” pitcher – typically one expected to pitch for four or more innings. This approach minimizes exposure to the opponent’s top hitters, as pitchers tend to perform worse the more they face the same lineup. Notably, the success of the opener strategy hasn’t been universal, and it’s not a guaranteed solution to Severino’s struggles.
Why Yankees choose Hamilton?
Hamilton, 30, carries a 3.47 ERA in 36⅓ innings across 31 appearances this season. In his last 13 outings, he’s allowed just two earned runs over 15⅓ innings. Yet, his role has remained firmly in the bullpen.
The decision to use Hamilton as opener reflects the catastrophic injury situation that has befallen the Yankees’ starting staff. Gerrit Cole, their $324 million ace, is out for the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. Luis Gil, last year’s Rookie of the Year, has been sidelined since March with a high-grade lat strain, though he’s finally progressing through a rehab assignment after throwing 42 pitches in live batting practice on July 8.
Most recently, Clarke Schmidt was placed on the 15-day IL on July 4 with forearm tightness, but subsequent imaging revealed UCL damage requiring his second Tommy John surgery. He’ll miss the remainder of 2025 and likely most of 2026.
Enter Hamilton, whose opener role in 2023 included three starts with four total innings. Friday night will replicate that flexibility that he is expected to cover the early innings before the bullpen takes over.
Cam Schlittler or JT Brubaker could follow as a bulk man. The bullpen has been equally devastated. Mark Leiter Jr. suffered a left fibular head stress fracture on July 8 while covering first base, Fernando Cruz is battling a high-grade oblique strain expected to sideline him until August, and Ryan Yarbrough remains on the IL with his own oblique issue, though he’s progressing through a throwing program. The Yankees are relying heavily on depth.
What’s at stake
Facing Spencer Strider—a career ace returning from injury with a solid 3.94 ERA in 2025—Hamilton’s early performance is crucial. The Braves still boast a dangerous lineup, despite their sub-.500 record.
This opener assignment underscores how the Yankees are mixing tactics to address rotation gaps. Hamilton’s debut as opener since 2023 highlights both his versatility and the team’s pressing needs. If he delivers a clean first inning, New York’s offense and bullpen could jump-start their second-half push.
What do you think?
