An injured Yankees pitcher was taken off the American League Championship Series roster Friday, and he won’t be eligible to pitch in the World Series.
Ian Hamilton was removed from Game 3 of the ALCS on Thursday after covering first base on a ground ball hit between the pitcher’s mound and first base. The Yankees said he left the game with a calf injury.
Although the signs of the injury weren’t immediately obvious, Hamilton could not continue after attempting a couple of warmup pitches. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on his calf, which ostensibly confirmed the injury wouldn’t allow him to pitch in the short term.
Now, his season is over.
MLB postseason rules provide that a club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is unable to play because of an injury. The Commissioner’s Office may approve or disapprove the request based on the specific facts and circumstances. In accordance with the rules, Hamilton will be ineligible to return in the World Series should the Yankees participate.
Mark Leiter Jr. will take Hamilton’s place on the Yankees’ 26-man ALCS roster. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said pitchers Cody Poteet and Clayton Beeter were also discussed as possibilities to take Hamilton’s roster spot.
Brian Cashman said the Yankees also discussed Cody Poteet and Clayton Beeter. The choice was Mark Leiter Jr. based on his track record of success vs. left-handed hitters.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) October 18, 2024
Hamilton, a 29-year-old right-hander, threw 58 innings with a 2.64 ERA for the Yankees in 2024. He posted a 28.9 percent strikeout rate and an excellent 55.3 percent ground-ball rate after signing a minor league contract in January.
Hamilton is 4-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 89 career appearances with the Chicago White Sox (2018-20), Minnesota Twins (2022) and Yankees (2023-24).
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 10: Ian Hamilton #71 and Tim Hill #54 of the New York Yankees smile before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on October 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Hamilton won’t pitch the remainder of the season because of a calf injury.
New York Yankees/Getty Images
Leiter, a 33-year-old right-hander, went 2-1 with a 4.98 ERA in 21 games after arriving in a midseason trade with the Chicago Cubs. Overall he’s made 60 appearances in 2024, going 4-5 with a 4.50 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 58 innings.
Leiter’s next postseason appearance will be his first in a career that began in 2017 with the Philadelphia Phillies. In parts of five seasons with the Phillies (2017-18), Toronto Blue Jays (2018), Cubs (2022-24), and Yankees, Leiter is 10-22 with a 4.56 ERA. He’s pitched exclusively as a reliever each of the last two seasons.
More news: Yankees Make Trade, Acquire Right-Handed Reliever from Chicago Cubs
Hoch reported that Boone said Leiter was the final cut from the Yankees’ pitching staff prior to the ALCS. Beeter, 26, has only appeared in three major league games. Poteet, 30, has made 24 appearances in his career, but only one since June 12.
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