The New York Yankees’ bullpen has been hit hard by injuries early in the 2024 regular season. Within a short span, the team lost relief pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga and Nick Burdi to the injured list. Loaisiga, expected to play a crucial role as the main eighth-inning arm, underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his season. Additionally, the absence of Tommy Kahnle, Lou Trivino, and Scott Effross is expected to persist until the summer.
In response, the Yankees recalled right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Marinaccio, who previously served as a setup man for the Yankees in 2022, displayed impressive numbers during that stint, recording a 2.05 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and a .149 opposing batting average over 44 innings.
Since his return this season, Marinaccio has demonstrated solid performance for the Yankees. In five innings pitched, the Toms River, New Jersey native of Italian descent has maintained a 1.80 ERA, five strikeouts, and a .133 opposing batting average, while allowing only two hits and one run.
Given the team’s depleted bullpen, the Yankees will rely heavily on Marinaccio’s production to navigate through the absence of Loaisiga. Furthermore, the loss of Michael King and Wandy Peralta to the San Diego Padres, who were key relievers for the Yankees in recent seasons, further underscores the importance of Marinaccio’s role.
Although Marinaccio faced challenges in 2023, including a 3.99 ERA over 47.1 innings, his dedication to refining his pitches, particularly his changeup, during his time in the minor leagues has paid off. Now, Marinaccio appears poised to reclaim his status as a high-leverage reliever for the Yankees, reminiscent of his performance in 2022.
