The New York Yankees didn’t waste any time: right-handed reliever Bradley Hanner got optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right after their September 15 game against the Minnesota Twins. This move sends the 27-year-old righty back to the minors, effectively wrapping up his second major league season with New York in a hurry.
Those Major League Numbers Just Didn’t Cut It
Look, it’s a brutal game, and sometimes the numbers just scream at you. Hanner’s latest stint in the Bronx saw him strike out seven hitters over four appearances, but he also coughed up seven earned runs in just 5.1 innings pitched. That puts his season ERA at a sky-high 11.81. Oof. His last time on the mound, on September 12 against the Mets, was particularly rough: he gave up four earned runs in a mere 1.1 innings. Manager Aaron Boone made the call to make room on the active 26-man roster, specifically for right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who’s coming off the injured list. This wasn’t some waiver wire drama either, the Yankees just straight-up optioned Hanner to Triple-A to free up that precious roster space.
Minor League Quality vs. Major League Reality
Here’s the kicker: Hanner isn’t a bad pitcher. In the minors, he’s actually been pretty solid. Down in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the 6-foot-4 righty boasts a 6-3 record, a 1.25 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts across 55.1 innings over a 45-game career. Those are quality numbers! But his brief major league stints? They’ve been a struggle. The Yankees added Hanner to their 40-man roster back in July, and he’s been bouncing between the minors and the majors multiple times this season. This latest move lets the Yankees keep developing their minor league pitching depth as the regular season starts winding down.
Hanner is heading back to Scranton to get a steady workload again. He’s still on the radar, though, remaining in position for another shot in the bullpen if the Yankees need him before the regular season finally ends. It’s all about New York getting that flexibility as they finalize their pitching staff for these final weeks of the year. Every arm counts when you’re this deep into the schedule.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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