Yankees Pitcher Clayton Beeter Begins Rehab Assignment
The New York Yankees received some positive news amidst a string of injuries and pitching challenges. Right-handed pitcher Clayton Beeter has officially started a rehab assignment with the Single-A Tampa Tarpons. This marks a significant milestone in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement that sidelined him during spring training.
Beeter, who joined the Yankees in 2022 as part of the Joey Gallo trade with the Dodgers, was originally seen as a starting pitcher but was later transitioned into a multi-inning relief role. Shoulder problems limited his appearances last season to just 15 games across both the majors and minors.
Over the offseason, the Yankees committed to using Beeter exclusively out of the bullpen, hoping to capitalize on his high-velocity fastball and sharp slider in shorter outings.
The team’s pitching depth has been tested early in the season. Gerrit Cole is out for the year, and Luis Gil remains inactive due to a strained lat suffered in spring training. Most recently, Marcus Stroman joined the injured list with a knee injury. Meanwhile, closer Devin Williams is struggling, posting a 9.00 ERA.
Beeter could be an important addition to a bullpen that’s being overused due to short outings from starters. While his major league ERA last season was 4.91, he showed promise by striking out a third of the batters he faced. In the minors, he was even more dominant, throwing seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks over five appearances.
Though there’s no set date for his return to the Yankees, the team is closely watching his rehab progress. If he performs well, he could soon bolster the bullpen at a much-needed time.
