The New York Yankees are off to a strong start in the 2025 season, currently leading the American League East. But if they want to stay on top and make a serious championship run, they’ll need contributions from their entire roster. That’s why the team had been hopeful about the progress of veteran reliever Jake Cousins — until a recent injury setback put those hopes on hold.
Cousins has yet to pitch this season, and although the Yankees have managed without him so far, they’d prefer to have the right-hander available out of the bullpen. He seemed to be nearing a return, but a new injury has thrown a wrench in his comeback. After recovering from a right elbow flexor strain that landed him on the 60-day injured list back in March, Cousins is now dealing with a pectoral issue that has forced him to stop throwing for several days.
Cousins made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Brewers, where he quickly became a valuable bullpen piece. However, his role diminished over the following two seasons, with only 21 combined appearances in 2022 and 2023.
He eventually found a new home with the Yankees, delivering a strong regular season performance — a 2.37 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 37 games — as New York advanced to the World Series. Unfortunately, his postseason showing didn’t live up to expectations, as he gave up five earned runs in six appearances. While it didn’t alter the Yankees’ fate against the powerhouse Dodgers, it was still a letdown.
Despite the rocky postseason, the Yankees maintained their confidence in Cousins. However, his ongoing injury troubles have kept him sidelined in 2025. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Cousins experienced discomfort in his pectoral muscle following a live batting practice session, and will be shut down for 4–5 days. The team is optimistic he could resume throwing by mid-next week.
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