Injury Forces Yankees’ Hand — Meet the Fireballer Getting the Call-Up

Yankees Shake Up Bullpen, Promote Hard-Throwing Lefty as Injuries Mount

The New York Yankees made a quiet bullpen move on Thursday, placing right-hander Yerry De Los Santos on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow discomfort. In his place, the team called up left-hander Jayvien Sandridge, who will be making his MLB debut.

De Los Santos Delivered Results Without the Hype

While De Los Santos wasn’t a dominant strikeout arm, he was quietly effective. In 20 innings this season, the 26-year-old posted a 1.80 ERA, striking out 13 and keeping hard contact to a minimum. He excelled at generating ground balls—ranking in the 96th percentile in ground ball rate—and avoided barrels, placing in the 90th percentile.

Despite walking nearly 13% of batters and striking out just 14%, he minimized damage by commanding the bottom of the zone. His success was a reminder that velocity isn’t everything—De Los Santos thrived with precision and control. His absence may not make headlines, but it’s a blow to a bullpen that has leaned on his quiet consistency.

Enter Jayvien Sandridge: A Southpaw With Sizzle

To fill the void, the Yankees turned to Jayvien Sandridge, a lefty reliever who’s been building momentum in Triple-A. Across 12 innings this year, he’s posted a 3.00 ERA, and over his last seven frames, he’s allowed just one run (1.29 ERA).

Sandridge brings a lively four-seam fastball averaging 94.4 mph and pairs it with a sharp 85 mph slider, giving hitters a different look. The 26-year-old’s calm demeanor and pitch mix could make him an effective late-inning option—especially against left-handed hitters.

Given the Yankees’ limited left-handed bullpen depth, Sandridge has a legitimate opportunity to carve out a role.

Yankees Also Lose Versatile Cabrera to Long-Term IL

Adding to their injury woes, the Yankees moved utilityman Oswald Cabrera to the 60-day injured list with a fractured ankle. Cabrera’s versatility has been valuable for a roster dealing with offensive inconsistencies, and his loss further limits their infield options.

With injuries mounting in both the bullpen and position player groups, the Yankees’ depth is being tested just as the midseason grind begins—a familiar challenge for a team that has battled summer slumps in recent years.