The Yankees were expecting veteran bullpen arm Mark Leiter Jr. to throw a bullpen session on Sunday afternoon as he works his way back from a nagging back injury. However, that session never happened. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Leiter Jr. did not take the mound, raising concerns that the issue might be more significant than initially thought.
A Delayed Spring Could Spell Trouble
Leiter Jr., 34, was projected to be a key piece in the Yankees’ bullpen this season, despite some inconsistencies last year. He split time between the Chicago Cubs and Yankees in 2024, posting a combined 4.50 ERA over 70 innings. While the numbers don’t jump off the page, his ability to generate strikeouts was notable, recording 13.71 strikeouts per nine innings.
With the Yankees, however, things were a bit shakier. He pitched to a 4.98 ERA over 21.2 innings, struggling at times with command. His ground ball rate took a dip as well, which resulted in more hard-hit balls. Despite those struggles, Leiter Jr. showed his worth in the postseason, logging a 1.69 ERA over 5.1 innings.
Yankees Need Stability in the Bullpen
The Yankees’ bullpen is already dealing with a few injury concerns, so the uncertainty surrounding Leiter Jr. doesn’t help. The team had been easing him into game action this spring, but the latest setback could mean he isn’t progressing as quickly as hoped.
The Yankees acquired Leiter Jr. last trade deadline with the expectation that he would play an important role in middle relief. Now, his status is in question, and the team may need to consider contingency plans if he isn’t ready for Opening Day.