UPDATE OF CLAYTON BEETER RIGHT HERE

Let’s be honest: the Yankees’ pitching hasn’t exactly been striking fear into the hearts of hitters lately. Sure, Carlos Rodón looked sharp in his last outing, but with him, it sometimes feels like we’re always one gem away from a dud. And while Max Fried has been nothing short of sensational, he can't do it all himself.

But here’s a name to keep an eye on: Clayton Beeter. Yep, remember him? The righty who came over from the Dodgers in the Joey Gallo trade—easily the best part of that deal. Beeter’s been on the shelf with a shoulder impingement since spring training, but we’re finally getting signs of life, and they’re encouraging.

Originally thought to be a rotation piece, the Yankees wisely pivoted and slotted him into a multi-inning relief role this season. With his explosive fastball and wicked slider, he’s built to blow past batters in short bursts—and goodness knows, the bullpen could use a little extra firepower right now.

Beeter only made 15 appearances across all levels in 2024 thanks to that shoulder hiccup, but when he’s healthy, the stuff is electric. In the bigs last year, his ERA sat at 4.91—not ideal—but don’t let that fool you. He struck out a ton of batters he faced, which is no fluke. And in the minors? He was lights out: 7 scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts, zero walks. That’s video game-level dominance.

He’s currently on a rehab assignment, and while there’s no firm date circled for his return, the fact that he’s back throwing is great news. If he can stay on track, Beeter could be a real difference-maker in a bullpen that’s begging for consistency.

So, here’s hoping he keeps trending in the right direction—because a healthy Beeter might just be the bullpen boost this team’s been waiting for. 

Let’s go, Clayton.