Amid injury issues and struggles among their pitching corps, the New York Yankees got some encouraging news Sunday morning. The team announced that right-hander Clayton Beeter has begun a rehab assignment with the Single-A Tampa Tarpons
That is a big step forward as he recovers from a right shoulder impingement that sidelined him during spring training.
Beeter was acquired from the Dodgers in the Joey Gallo trade in 2022. He was acquired as a potential starter, but then expected to be a key multi-inning reliever for the Yankees this season. Shoulder issues limited him to just 15 appearances across the majors and minors in 2024. The Yankees transitioned him to a full-time bullpen role this offseason, believing his high-velocity fastball and sharp slider would be more effective in shorter stints.
With Gerrit Cole out for the season and Luis Gil still not throwing after suffering a strained lat in spring training, the Yankees' pitching depth began the season stretched thin. Marcus Stroman joined them on the injured list last week with a knee issue. Closer Devin Williams has a 9.00 ERA as the bullpen is getting taxed by short starts.
The bottom line is that the Yankees could use a strong multi-inning reliever right now.
In his brief major league stint last season, Beeter posted a 4.91 ERA but showcased a strong two-pitch mix, striking out 33.3% of batters faced. At the minor league level, he was even more impressive, recording seven shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks in five relief appearances.
While there's no official timeline for his return to the majors, Beeter's progress in his rehab assignment will be closely monitored. If he continues to perform well, he could soon be a valuable asset in the Yankees' bullpen.
