Yankees Promote 27-Year-Old Reliever for Potential Big League Debut

He's waited a long time for this opportunity

Aug 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A detailed view of a New York Yankees baseball hat and a glove during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The New York Yankees are giving a 21st-round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft the chance to pitch in the majors.

The Yankees have called up right-handed reliever Bradley Hanner from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the team announced on Tuesday. A spot on New York's active roster opened up for the 27-year-old after right-hander Kervin Castro was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow neuritis.

Hanner signed with the Yankees in December after spending several years in the minors with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians. And so far this season, the right-hander has produced some of the best numbers in his professional career while pitching out of the RailRiders' bullpen. That's seemingly set the stage for the 6-foot-4 reliever to make his long-awaited MLB debut.

What should Yankees fans expect from Bradley Hanner?

Mar 16, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees player Bradley Hanner poses for a portrait during media day at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: New York Yankees via Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Simply put, Hanner has earned the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues based on his performance in Triple-A this year. In 40 appearances out of the bullpen for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2026, the 27-year-old has a 2.10 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. That would be the best ERA of the right-hander's minor league career, surpassing his 2.78 ERA in 41 games with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks in 2023. During his seven seasons in the minors, the former 21st-round pick out of Patrick & Henry Community College has 403 strikeouts and 25 saves in 348 innings.

Heading into the trade deadline earlier this month, the Yankees were widely expected to pursue adding reinforcements to their bullpen. But instead, the only players New York acquired were Washington Nationals lefty-swinging slugger Luis García Jr. and San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos. The Yankees also moved right-handed relievers Camilo Doval, Yovanny Cruz, and Jake Bird elsewhere at the deadline, seemingly opening the door for other arms already in the organization to compete for a spot in the big league bullpen.

At least for the time being, Hanner finally has the chance to pitch in the majors. And depending on how he performs, the 2019 draft pick could carve out a role in New York's bullpen.