NEW YORK — The New York Yankees’ pitching crisis reached a new level Tuesday when Mark Leiter Jr. was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left fibular head stress fracture.
The unusual injury adds another layer of complexity to an already depleted bullpen. Leiter suffered the fracture two weeks ago during a defensive play but attempted to pitch through the discomfort until it became unbearable.
The 34-year-old reliever’s absence leaves the Yankees scrambling for bullpen solutions as the trade deadline approaches.
Rare injury stems from defensive play
Leiter’s injury occurred during an 11th-inning play against Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz. While covering first base, the reliever felt something pop in his leg but initially dismissed the severity.
“It didn’t really do me any good to tell anyone,” Leiter said, explaining he initially thought the issue was calf-related. “I was able to compete… but on Sunday I felt compromised for the first time.”
The veteran tried to continue pitching through the discomfort. His performance declined noticeably following the June 24 incident in Cincinnati.
Medical tests reveal serious damage to Yankees reliever
Leiter’s discomfort intensified during the Subway Series against the Mets. Medical imaging including an MRI and CT scan confirmed the stress fracture diagnosis.
Manager Aaron Boone couldn’t provide a definitive timeline for recovery. The nature of stress fractures makes predictions difficult.
“Obviously, not great,” Boone said. “He’s not going to throw for a couple days, but hopefully after that can get up and throwing and start getting back.”
Leiter had been one of the Yankees’ most reliable relievers this season. He owns a 4.46 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 34⅓ innings in 41 appearances.
His workload ranked second among Yankees relievers, trailing only lefty Tim Hill. Prior to the injury, Leiter carried a 3.48 ERA through June 23 with a strong strikeout and ground-ball rates.
Performance declined after incident
The injury’s impact became evident in Leiter’s recent outings. Following the June 24 play, he surrendered five earned runs in just 2⅓ innings across four appearances.
This stark contrast highlighted how the fracture affected his mechanics and effectiveness. His final appearance came Sunday at Citi Field, where he walked one batter and hit another in two-thirds of an inning.
The Yankees pulled him from that game, leading to the medical examination that revealed the fracture’s extent.
Beeter called up as replacement
The Yankees recalled right-hander Clayton Beeter from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a corresponding roster move. The 25-year-old has posted solid minor-league numbers and will help fill innings.
Beeter joins a bullpen already stretched thin by multiple injuries. The list of unavailable arms continues growing with Fernando Cruz (oblique), Yerry De Los Santos (elbow), and Jake Cousins (undisclosed) all sidelined.
Starting pitchers Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, and Ryan Yarbrough remain unavailable, creating additional strain on the relief corps.
“It’s been a rough stretch,” Boone said. “We’ve been in a lot of close games. Mark’s a guy we’ve leaned on a lot in the first half, so that’s probably caught up to us a little bit.”
Gil’s recovery provides hope
Luis Gil offers a potential bright spot in the Yankees’ pitching outlook. The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year threw a 42-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday.
Gil is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset this weekend. He hasn’t pitched this season due to a high-grade lat strain.
Last season, Gil posted a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts. His MLB-leading 77 walks remain a concern, but his upside is undeniable.
Boone emphasized that Gil’s return will be carefully managed and gradual.
Carlos Rodon and Max Fried have provided stability atop the rotation with a combined 20-8 record and sub-3.30 ERAs. However, the back end remains problematic.
Rookie Will Warren has shown flashes but lacks consistency. Clarke Schmidt is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, while Yarbrough hasn’t resumed throwing.
The Yankees’ need for pitching depth has reached a critical juncture as they chase playoff positioning.
Other Yankees pitching injuries update
Ryan Yarbrough is currently on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain, having been placed there on June 20. The left-handed pitcher is expected to potentially return sometime in July, though his recovery has been gradual. As of July 6, Yarbrough had not yet resumed throwing, but manager Aaron Boone provided an encouraging update, saying the pitcher seems to be “getting over the hump” and could begin tossing soon.
Yerry De Los Santos landed on the 15-day IL on June 19 due to right elbow discomfort that he experienced during his appearance on June 18. The right-handed reliever is also targeting a July return and has been making progress in his recovery. On July 5, De Los Santos took an important step forward by throwing 20 pitches in the bullpen at Citi Field as he continues to build up his arm strength.
Fernando Cruz faces the longest recovery timeline among the three pitchers after being placed on the injured list on June 30 with a left oblique strain. The right-hander underwent an MRI exam in New York on the same day, which revealed what manager Aaron Boone described as a “high grade” strain. Boone was frank about the severity of the injury, stating that “It’s going to be a while” before Cruz returns, with expectations pointing toward an August comeback at the earliest.
Leiter’s absence creates ripple effects
Leiter’s injury extends beyond statistical impact. His veteran presence and effective splitter served as a crucial late-inning weapon.
The loss forces role adjustments throughout the bullpen and complicates matchup strategies. For a team pursuing October’s success, losing such a trusted arm creates significant challenges.
The hope remains that the fracture represents a minor setback with a manageable recovery time. However, bone injuries heal on their own timeline, and the Yankees can’t afford extended delays.
Boone summarized the situation: “Hopefully, this is something we can get hammered out and get him back to throwing as well as he was the first couple months of the season.”
Until Leiter returns, the Yankees must rely on unproven options and potentially the trade market to stabilize their bullpen depth.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
