Insider reveals Jonathan Loaisiga is targeting a June return to the Yankees bullpen

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The Yankees re-signed Jonathan Loaisiga this winter, bringing him back despite a lost 2024 season due to UCL surgery in April. Now, the right-hander is targeting a return before the All-Star break, with Erik Boland reporting that Loaisiga himself expects to be ready by late May or early June. While Opening Day is out of the question, his recovery is progressing, and he’s determined to make an impact once back on the mound.

Loaisiga emphasized his commitment to the team, stating that he felt he “owed it to the team and the fans” to return after missing nearly all of last season. The Yankees are counting on him to regain his dominant form and help fortify a bullpen that is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years.

Yankees banking on Loaisiga’s return to strengthen bullpen

General manager Brian Cashman has made improving the bullpen a priority, and Loaisiga’s return could be one of the biggest internal additions of the offseason. When healthy, he’s been one of the most reliable relievers in baseball, posting a 2.89 ERA with a 20% strikeout rate over the past four seasons. However, staying on the field has been a challenge—he has appeared in just 20 games over the last two seasons and logged only 140.1 innings across the last four years.

For the Yankees to compete at the highest level in 2025, they need elite pitching, especially if Juan Soto departs in free agency. Loaisiga’s presence in the bullpen could be a game-changer, giving the team a powerful late-inning option alongside Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. If he can recapture his 2021 form—when he was one of the top relievers in baseball—the Yankees’ bullpen could become a dominant force.

Yankees’ revamped bullpen could be among MLB’s best

The front office has worked aggressively to assemble a strong relief corps, and Loaisiga was a key piece of their offseason plans. They fended off interest from other teams to bring him back, showing confidence in his ability to contribute when healthy. His return will be complemented by other notable bullpen moves, including the acquisitions of Tim Hill and Fernando Cruz.

Until Loaisiga is ready, the Yankees will need to rely on other relievers to step up. His absence opens a potential Opening Day roster spot for a younger arm looking to prove itself. Meanwhile, Jake Cousins, another bullpen option, is dealing with a forearm strain and is unlikely to be available for the Yankees’ season-opening series against the Brewers.

If everything goes according to plan, Loaisiga will be back by June, giving the Yankees yet another weapon in what could be their best bullpen in years. His return could be crucial as they look to contend for a deep postseason run in 2025.

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