The New York Yankees are grappling with a significant blow to their pitching depth after one of their key arms was sidelined with an injury during a spring training game. What initially seemed like a minor incident on the mound has quickly turned into a major concern for the team, leaving them with uncertainty in the early stages of their 2025 campaign.
The injury occurred during the Yankees’ spring training contest against the Blue Jays, when the pitcher was struck by a comebacker. However, the source of the injury wasn’t the line drive itself, but rather the way the pitcher twisted his body in an attempt to avoid the ball. While he managed to avoid direct contact, the awkward movement resulted in broken ribs, leaving him out of action for the foreseeable future.
Despite the painful injury, Yankees manager Aaron Boone reported that the pitcher is feeling better than expected. “He’s doing well symptomatically,” Boone said. “No issues with breathing or coughing, which is a positive sign.” However, it’s clear that this setback will cost the player valuable time and disrupt his efforts to break into the Yankees’ 26-man roster.
The injured player is JT Brubaker, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Brubaker had been hoping to secure a spot in the Yankees’ rotation this season, after spending much of 2024 rehabbing from an oblique injury. With Brubaker now sidelined, the Yankees face a decision: keep him on the roster or expose him to waivers, as he is out of minor-league options.
Brubaker, who spent time as a starter with the Pirates from 2020 to 2022, had been viewed as a valuable asset for the Yankees’ pitching staff. The team will now need to lean on other options like Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco, who are competing for spots behind the team’s established starters. This injury puts even more pressure on the Yankees’ rotation depth as they prepare for the regular season.
