Yankees add 95-mph power hurler to bolster pitching depth
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees have added right-hander Jordany Ventura to their minor league pitching ranks on a free-agent deal, as noted on the team’s transaction log. Ventura, who has spent his career to date with the Mets, reached Double-A last season and showed strong results as a reliever, despite limited action due to injuries. Over 48.2 innings, he posted a 2.96 ERA and 55 strikeouts inviting the Yankees interest.
Ventura excelled with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, achieving a spotless ERA in five appearances and striking out 31.4% of batters. The switch from a starter to a multi-inning reliever has seemingly enhanced his effectiveness.
His pitching arsenal offers plenty of potential, led by a four-seam fastball clocking in at 93-94 mph, occasionally hitting 96 with high spin rates and vertical action. Ventura’s repertoire also includes a sinker, cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup, though his mechanics could still benefit from refinement.
With the Yankees’ pitching development staff, overseen by Sam Briend and Matt Blake, Ventura could see his velocity and movement sharpened further. The Yankees’ track record in pitcher development could be key to maximizing his swing-and-miss abilities.
At 24, Ventura is positioned to compete for a major league spot as early as 2025 if he can stay healthy and continue progressing. His skill set, combined with the Yankees’ development resources, makes him an intriguing addition to the upper levels of the organization’s pitching depth.
Yankees also add lefty arm Leibrandt as first FA signing
The Yankees have added left-handed pitcher Brandon Leibrandt to their roster on a minor league contract, as indicated in Friday’s transaction update.
Leibrandt’s 2024 season began in the Atlantic League before a stint with the Cincinnati Reds, where he made two brief appearances in the majors, allowing seven earned runs and three homers over 6.1 innings. He also pitched in 17 Triple-A games, mostly as a starter.
Now 31, Leibrandt is set to attend Yankees Spring Training, aiming to make the Opening Day roster. Drafted in 2014 by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Florida State, he climbed to Triple-A by 2018, posting a solid 29-15 record and a 2.88 ERA across his minor league career.
However, his progress was interrupted by Tommy John surgery in 2018, followed by a prolonged break during the 2020 pandemic shutdown. Leibrandt eventually debuted with the Miami Marlins in 2020, achieving a 2.00 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in five relief appearances. He spent the next two seasons in Double-A and Triple-A, playing for both the Marlins and Chicago Cubs organizations.
Primarily a starter throughout his minor league career, Leibrandt’s major league outings have mostly been in relief. The timing of his signing comes amid significant free-agent losses for the Yankees’ bullpen, including relievers Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill, Lou Trivino, and Jonathan Loaisiga. This wave of bullpen departures raises the question of whether Leibrandt is a serious candidate for the 2025 roster or simply offers organizational depth as the team navigates the offseason.
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Here we go again, with the Yankees signing guys off the scrap/injury pile, and forgetting about anyone in their system. Oh yeah, they don’t teach those guys any FB command 😒 anyway.