Brent Headrick continues to be ‘consistent’ Yankees rubber arm early in season
Right now, the tempo is unsustainable. Incomprehensible, even, when contemplating the scope of a full season.
Brent Headrick, one of many left-handed relievers in the Yankees’ bullpen, has already pitched in 12 of their first 18 video games to begin the season, placing him on tempo to tie the MLB file of 108 that the Dodgers‘Mike Marshall set in 1974. That will not occur.
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The Yankees’ early schedule, with days off labored in, helped house Headrick’s availability, however the 28-year-old has additionally flashed sturdiness that he thinks will be replicable for the video games he finally ends up pitching in — even with it being his first full season as a real one-inning highlighter.
He sits first in the majors in appearances by a reliever and entered play Wednesday eighth in strikeouts (12), and after a spring coaching the place Headrick acquired loads of reward from supervisor Aaron Boone, he has delivered promising early returns.
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“You’re not gonna be 100 percent every night, but just being the best version of yourself every night that you can,” Headrick informed The Post earlier than the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Angelsthe place Headrick tossed a scoreless eighth and lowered his ERA to 1.74. “We prepared for this. We prepared to pitch one inning, like I said, multiple days a week and things like that — and one-plus even if I need to. So I think we’re ready for it.”
Headrick does not have a purpose for what number of video games he needs to pitch this season.
Brent Headrick throws a pitch through the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 5-4 comeback win over the Angels on April 15, 2026 on the Stadium Robert Sabo for NY Post
He threw 108 ¹/₃ innings as a starter in 2022, so innings would not be a priority — however slightly a capability to bounce again health-wise from one outing to the subsequent.
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Headrick struggled a bit with that final 12 months when shifting from the rotation to the bullpen, Boone mentioned, however he already seen an enchancment.
His season opened with eight consecutive scoreless appearances throughout seven innings, and after permitting runs throughout his subsequent two cameos, Headrick rebounded with a scoreless body Tuesday.
Headrick has now thrown 4 back-to-backs through the first three weeks of the season, too.
“Brent’s been excellent,” Boone mentioned. “He’s been one of those guys that kind of has grabbed a key role down there and been real consistent.”
In a Yankees bullpen nonetheless crammed with loads of questions, Headrick has an opportunity to preserve carving out a big function. He’ll want to keep away from fatigue with the mounting workload. He’ll want to navigate any rising pains that inevitably pop up when hitters alter to his two-seam fastball — which he is throwing extra to lefties and righties this 12 months, he mentioned — and his four-seam fastball, whereas mixing in his slider and his new splitter.
Brent Headrick throws a pitch through the eighth inning of the Yankees’ comeback win over the Angels. Robert Sabo for NY Post
But after the primary chunk of the season, he already has a basis to work with — even when it is an unfeasible tempo for the marathon forward.
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“It’s a long season,” Headrick mentioned. “I just try to stay as neutral as I can with everything, and just try to go out there and do my job and execute. Because I know that when I’m at my best, I can do that.”
