The New York Yankees are close to bringing back one of their most underrated bullpen assets. Right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton kicked off a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, marking an important step in his return to the big leagues.
After a spring filled with injuries and uncertainty, his comeback is eagerly awaited.
Hamilton’s Rollercoaster Journey Since 2023
At 29 years old, Hamilton is just one season removed from being one of the biggest surprises in the Yankees’ bullpen. In 2023, he posted an impressive 2.64 ERA over 58 innings, striking out 10.71 batters per nine innings and posting a ground ball rate exceeding 55%. His ability to generate strikeouts while keeping the ball on the ground made him a perfect fit in Yankee Stadium, where fly balls often turn into home runs.
But 2024 was a different story.
Hamilton struggled with inconsistency and injury, logging just 37.2 innings while watching his ERA rise to 3.82. While those numbers aren’t catastrophic, they didn’t fully capture the ups and downs fans witnessed when he took the mound. His velocity fluctuated, his command was inconsistent, and a late-season setback only added to the challenges.
The Infection That Altered the Timeline
Hamilton’s most recent setback wasn’t due to a sore elbow or a shoulder issue—it was an infection. This rare, non-baseball injury seriously delayed his recovery process this spring.
What initially seemed like a brief delay turned into several additional weeks on the sidelines. Thankfully, after overcoming the illness and resuming baseball activities, Hamilton is now on track for a return.
What Hamilton Adds to the Yankees’ Bullpen
When fully healthy, Hamilton is a formidable asset. His repertoire features a mid-90s fastball with heavy sink, along with a lethal slider/change-up combination that keeps hitters off balance. He excels against both right-handed and left-handed batters and brings the gritty, high-leverage mentality the Yankees value in critical situations.
With Jonathan Loáisiga recovering from elbow surgery and other bullpen arms still working their way back, Hamilton’s return provides the Yankees with another dependable option in high-leverage situations.
If his rehab goes smoothly in Triple-A, Hamilton could be back in the Bronx in just a few days—and for a bullpen aiming to regain its elite form, that’s a significant boost.
Great news