The Yankees’ options for the Scranton Shuttle are dwindling, as the team lost their second young reliever in a month to a torn UCL.
Branden Pinder, who was called up last week to replace lefty Tyler Olson, has a torn UCL according to NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty, and is considering Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t decided whether he will undergo the surgery, but either way he is likely done for the year.
Pinder only appeared in one game for New York in 2016, giving up two runs, three hits, and a walk in his lone inning of work. His 2.93 ERA in 27 ⅔ big league innings in 2015 suggest he would have been capable of better going forward, however. The 27-year-old right-hander was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday with a right elbow strain before an MRI Saturday revealed the tear. Right-hander Nick Goody was called up from Triple-A Scranton to take his place.
In isolation, the loss of Pinder can be absorbed thanks to the stable of young relievers the Yankees have accumulated. However, this is only the latest in a rash of pitching injuries that have put a significant dent in their bullpen depth. Bryan Mitchell, Nick Rumbelow, and Domingo German are all expected to miss all or the majority of 2016 as well.
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