The New York Yankees are not waiting for a perfect storm to make a move. As Kervin Castro heads to the 15-day injured list with right elbow neuritis, the team is already recalling right-hander Bradley Hanner from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This is not a minor tweak; it is a direct response to a sudden hole in the bullpen that appeared just before the series against the Seattle Mariners. The timing hits hard because Castro has been one of the best relievers on the roster since May.
Castro’s Unexpected Exit
Kervin Castro was giving the Yankees exactly what they needed before his arm gave out. His last appearance against the Atlanta Braves saw him throw six pitches, and every single one was a strike. He struck out one batter and allowed no hits in that final outing. Before this injury, his ERA sat at a crisp 1.42. According to Pinstripe Alley, Castro debuted in pinstripes during May versus the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching two complete innings with two strikeouts. Despite only four appearances, he was excellent in all of them. He allowed just one walk across his recent starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. The team placed him on the list retroactive to August 10, which means the clock is already ticking for his return.
Hanner’s Long Wait Ends
Bradley Hanner has been waiting in the wings for this exact moment. At 27 years old, the Rhoadesville, Virginia native finally gets his shot at the big league level. He spent the 2026 season making waves in the minor leagues, posting a 6-2 record with the Railriders. According to Pinstripe Alley, Hanner has a 2.10 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched. Among all pitchers logging 50 or more innings, his strikeout rate sits 11th, while his 1.17 WHIP sits at 10th. He was first picked by the Minnesota Twins in round 21 of the 2019 MLB Draft. He stayed in their system until December 2022, when Cleveland selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. After leaving Cleveland, he reached Triple-A Columbus in 2025 before signing a minor league deal with the Yankees.
A Test for the Whole Bullpen
The Yankees bullpen depth will be tested for the first time since the trade deadline. The team dealt four relievers over the summer, leaving little room for error when a key arm goes down. Castro was a crucial piece of that late-inning puzzle, and his absence creates a gap that Hanner must fill immediately. The move is retroactive to August 10, so the team has already adjusted the roster count. Hanner’s 17.6% B-KK% shows he can miss bats, but the major league stage is a different beast. The Yankees need him to replicate his minor league dominance right away. This situation proves that the bullpen is thinner than it looked a week ago. The next few games against the Mariners will show if Hanner can handle the pressure.
Sources: Pinstripe Alley (SBN Yankees)
