One of the key relievers for the New York Yankees has been lost.
Jake Cousins, a right-hander, was placed on the 15-day disabled list (with retroactive effect to September 20) due to a right pectoral injury, the team said on Sunday.
Consequently, Clayton Beeter, a talented right-hand pitcher, was brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by New York to replace Cousins on the active roster.
After just six pitches in his outing on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners, Cousins was lifted from the game due to a noticeable drop in velocity.
In 38 innings, the 30-year-old has recorded a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts in his breakout season in the Yankee bullpen.
The Yankees will be hopeful that Cousins can continue where he left off in the postseason now that the regular season is done.
Meanwhile, the Yankees activated Beeter, who has returned from a shoulder injury that was first thought to be season-ending and has pitched well in the minor leagues.
After getting back into action on September 7, Beeter had five scoreless relief appearances over seven innings with twelve strikeouts while allowing just one run between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In the Yankees’ farm system, Beeter, 25, is listed as the team’s 18th best prospect. The young pitcher was added to the team’s Opening Day roster as a reliever, but after making just one scoreless big-league appearance in March, he was optioned back to the minors.
Given his versatility as a starter and reliever, Beeter may be considered for a role as a long man in the Yankees’ postseason bullpen.
Nevertheless, considering that Cousins has been among the Yankees’ top bullpen arms this season, the team will still be holding its breath in hopes that he can return in October.
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