The New York Yankees are finally receiving some positive news on the injury front. After right-handed starter Clarke Schmidt’s successful rehab outing in Double-A—where he allowed no runs and struck out seven in 3 1/3 innings—the team has another hopeful update regarding its pitching staff.
“Jonathan Loaisiga (rehab from surgery) threw a bullpen session today with Double-A Somerset,” reported MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “Loaisiga’s target of a late May/early June return to MLB is realistic, according to manager Aaron Boone.”
With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver anchoring the back end of the Yankees’ bullpen, Loaisiga’s return would provide additional stability. The 30-year-old right-hander has the experience to effectively bridge the gap between the more inconsistent relievers and the team’s most reliable arms. In 2021, Loaisiga posted an impressive 2.17 ERA in 57 appearances, leading New York to believe he could play a key role in their bullpen for the foreseeable future. However, he struggled the following year and dealt with a series of injuries. Since the 2023 season, Loaisiga has pitched just 21 2/3 innings, with his most recent setback being elbow surgery last April.
Though it remains uncertain whether Loaisiga will ever be able to maintain consistent health as a bullpen mainstay, his return could provide crucial depth for the Yankees during the second half of the season. As one of the best offenses in baseball through their first seven games, the Yankees will look to weather the storm of injuries that have sidelined Gerrit Cole and currently have Luis Gil, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, and Jonathan Loaisiga all recovering.
The priority now is navigating these challenges to remain in the playoff hunt. When Loaisiga and others return, the Yankees will hope to have the necessary pieces to make a championship push, though both the team and the veteran pitcher still have a long road ahead before that goal becomes a reality.
