The New York Yankees are set to get some much-needed bullpen reinforcements in the next few months, as Jonathan Loaisiga recently threw a bullpen session with the Somerset Patriots. While he hasn’t yet appeared in a professional game this season, Loaisiga is progressing toward a rehab assignment, with manager Aaron Boone hopeful for his return by late May or early June.
Loaisiga, who re-signed with the Yankees this offseason on a two-year deal with an option, has only pitched at the Major League level for the team. He missed nearly all of the 2024 season after undergoing elbow surgery due to a UCL injury suffered early in the year, just after the second series in Arizona.
Yankees Hopeful for Loaisiga’s Return Later This Spring
One of the top relievers when healthy, the Yankees are eager to get Loaisiga back on the mound. Since 2021, the right-hander has posted a 2.89 ERA with a 59.2% ground ball rate, and he’s known for one of the nastiest sinkers in the game, regularly hitting 98-100 MPH with impressive horizontal movement. With the Yankees facing injuries to 10 pitchers to start the season, the bullpen has been thinner than expected.
Boone mentioned that Loaisiga is targeting a late May or early June return, though the exact timing of his rehab assignment has yet to be determined. Loaisiga traveled with the Somerset Patriots to Hartford but has not yet begun a rehab stint. Once he starts pitching in games, the goal will be to gradually build up his pitch count and prepare for back-to-back outings.
Injuries have hindered Loaisiga from reaching his full potential with the Yankees, as he has been a key contributor both in the regular season and the postseason when healthy. However, he’s not the only bullpen help on the way. Ian Hamilton and Tyler Matzek are both expected to rejoin the team in April.
Hamilton wasn’t sidelined by injury, but rather by a severe infection that kept him out of most of the Grapefruit League. The Yankees took a cautious approach, allowing him to get extended work in Triple-A before returning. Hamilton is expected back by April 8th, following the 15-day IL requirement, and could join the Yankees during their series in Detroit.
Matzek, on the other hand, was recovering from an injury and is set to begin rehab outings soon, with a potential return by the end of the month. Since Matzek is signed to a Minor League deal, he would need a spot on the 40-man roster to be called up, which could complicate things. With Clarke Schmidt expected to return around April 15th or 16th, the Yankees face some tough roster decisions in the coming weeks.
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