The Yankees have released right-hander Duane Underwood Jr., who had been pitching for their Triple-A team after signing a minor league deal in the offseason, according to MiLB.com. Underwood is now a free agent and can sign with any team.
Despite generally solid results in Scranton, Underwood’s release comes as a surprise. He pitched 38 2/3 innings for the RailRiders, posting a 3.26 ERA with a 23.4% strikeout rate, which is slightly above the major league average. However, his high 14% walk rate likely contributed to the Yankees not giving him a chance in the majors this season, as it suggested potential regression in his otherwise strong earned run average.
A second-round pick by the Cubs in 2012, the 30-year-old Underwood has over three years of major league experience, split between the Cubs and Pirates. He had some success with Pittsburgh from 2021-22, working his way into a leverage role. During those two seasons, he pitched 130 innings with a 4.36 ERA, a 21.1% strikeout rate, a 9% walk rate, a 45.7% ground-ball rate, one save, and twelve holds. Although he may not have been suited for a setup role, Underwood proved to be a reliable middle reliever.
However, the 2023 season was a setback for Underwood. He pitched only 24 1/3 innings in the majors and struggled with a 5.18 ERA, along with significant declines in his strikeout and walk rates. His average sinker velocity dropped from 95.3 mph in 2022 to 93.6 mph in 2023. Pittsburgh waived him last June, and he became a minor league free agent at the season’s end, eventually signing with the Yankees.
Overall, Underwood has 190 2/3 innings of major league experience with a 4.63 ERA. He has a 21.5% strikeout rate and a 9% walk rate, consistent with his performance for the Pirates in 2021-22. With the Yankees organization, he mostly worked in short relief but also had eight appearances where he recorded between four and six outs over the past few months. He could be a valuable addition for a team in need of an experienced reliever capable of pitching multiple innings per appearance.
