The New York Yankees’ pitching depth faces its first significant test of 2025 as right-hander JT Brubaker is scheduled for comprehensive diagnostic imaging after a concerning spring training incident. The 31-year-old veteran, still navigating his return from 2023 Tommy John surgery, will undergo both MRI and CT scan evaluations on Monday following his abrupt exit from Friday’s spring opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Brubaker, acquired from Pittsburgh last March in exchange for infield prospect Keiner Delgado, was struck by a Kameron Misner line drive during his second inning of work. While initial X-rays showed no fractures, the Yankees’ medical staff remains concerned about potential soft tissue damage.
“Right now, it appears to be just side stuff,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the team’s weekend loss to Detroit. The deliberately measured assessment suggests the organization is proceeding with appropriate caution regarding a pitcher who represents important rotation insurance.
Promising Yankees return interrupted
The timing proves particularly unfortunate for Brubaker, who had shown encouraging signs in his first competitive appearance following Tommy John’s reconstruction. The procedure, performed April 23, 2023, while Brubaker was still with the Pirates, typically requires 12-18 months of rehabilitation.
After completing a scoreless third inning against Tampa Bay, Brubaker had appeared on track for consideration in the Yankees’ 2025 plans before the deflected line drive forced his early departure in the fourth. The incident represents a potential setback in what had been a carefully orchestrated return to major league form.
For context, Brubaker compiled a 9-28 record with a 4.99 ERA across 63 appearances (61 starts) during three seasons with Pittsburgh from 2020-2022. His career has been defined by perseverance, with 324 strikeouts against 109 walks over 315.2 innings before elbow reconstruction temporarily halted his progress.
Medical implications
The Yankees’ decision to employ dual imaging technologies—both MRI and CT scans—reflects contemporary best practices in sports medicine and the organization’s commitment to comprehensive player evaluation.
MRI technology excels at revealing subtle soft tissue injuries that X-rays cannot detect, particularly involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The CT scan provides complementary cross-sectional imagery that can help confirm or rule out specific concerns. Together, these diagnostic tools will provide the Yankees’ medical team with detailed information about Brubaker’s condition.
Of particular concern is the possibility of oblique muscle damage, which can severely impact a pitcher’s mechanics and often requires extended recovery time. Oblique strains have notoriously variable healing timelines, sometimes sidelining pitchers for six weeks or more depending on severity.
The Yankees’ cautious approach likely stems from the understanding that soft tissue injuries, while less dramatic than fractures, can prove equally debilitating for pitchers who rely on precise movements and core stability. The organization’s emphasis on thorough evaluation before determining the next steps aligns with modern injury management protocols.
Roster implications
Brubaker’s situation highlights the precarious nature of pitching depth and roster construction as Opening Day approaches. With limited minor league options remaining, his path forward presents several scenarios depending on the scan results.
If medical evaluations reveal only minor irritation, Brubaker could quickly resume his push for a roster spot. However, more significant findings would force difficult organizational decisions. As a member of the 40-man roster, Brubaker cannot simply be assigned to Triple-A without clearing waivers unless placed on the injured list.
The Yankees face potential decisions including keeping Brubaker on the active roster if healthy enough to contribute or placing him on the injured list to allow proper recovery. Other options include designating him for assignment if roster pressures mount or attempting to trade him to a team with greater pitching needs.
Each pathway carries strategic implications for a Yankees team heavily invested in championship contention this season. The pitching depth Brubaker represents holds particular value across a demanding 162-game schedule where attrition inevitably tests organizational resources.
The Tommy John Recovery Context
Brubaker’s current situation must be viewed through the lens of his ongoing recovery from elbow reconstruction. Tommy John surgery, while increasingly routine in professional baseball, still represents a significant career hurdle requiring meticulous rehabilitation.
Modern recovery protocols typically focus on gradual progression, with most pitchers requiring approximately 14-16 months before returning to competitive game action. While the procedure’s success rate continues to improve—with roughly 85% of pitchers returning to their previous level—the recovery process remains fraught with potential setbacks.
For pitchers in their post-Tommy John season, secondary injuries present particular concern. Biomechanical adjustments made during rehabilitation can sometimes place unexpected stress on other areas of the body, potentially explaining why Brubaker might be experiencing side discomfort after contact with the line drive.
The Yankees’ medical and performance staff will need to determine whether the current issue represents a simple bruise or something that could threaten the structural integrity of his delivery mechanics.
Yankees’ rotation depth assessment
Brubaker’s health status impacts the Yankees’ broader pitching strategy for 2025. After investing heavily in the rotation by acquiring Max Fried to pair with ace Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, the organization has cultivated multiple depth options to navigate the inevitable injuries that occur throughout a season.
The current starting rotation projects include Cole, Fried, Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Nestor Cortes, with Brubaker competing alongside younger arms for long relief roles and spot-starting assignments. Any extended absence would thin these contingency plans and potentially accelerate development timelines for prospects.
Manager Aaron Boone has consistently emphasized the importance of pitching depth throughout his tenure. “We’ve learned over and over that you can never have enough pitching,” Boone remarked during early spring workouts. “The teams that withstand the inevitable challenges during a long season are the ones with enough quality arms to weather those storms.”
This philosophy explains the organization’s cautious approach with Brubaker, balancing immediate roster needs against long-term pitching availability.
Fingers crossed
The results of Monday’s diagnostic imaging will likely determine Brubaker’s immediate future with the organization. If findings reveal minimal damage, he could resume throwing within days, potentially maintaining his candidacy for an Opening Day roster spot.
More significant findings would necessitate a revised timeline and adjusted expectations. The Yankees would then need to determine whether Brubaker represents a mid-season reinforcement worth maintaining on the 40-man roster during rehabilitation, or if roster pressures dictate considering alternative arrangements.
For Brubaker personally, this represents another challenge in a career defined by resilience. Having already navigated the demanding Tommy John rehabilitation process, he has demonstrated the mental fortitude required to overcome setbacks. However, at 31 years old and with limited remaining team control, the stakes of this recovery timeline are particularly significant.
As the Yankees await Monday’s diagnostic results, Brubaker’s situation encapsulates the precarious nature of pitching depth and the challenges of roster construction in modern baseball.
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