Yankees sign top pitcher to a minor league contract, The Yankees have signed left-handed pitcher Brandon Leibrandt to a minor league contract, according to his MLB.com profile. Leibrandt was designated for assignment by the Reds at the end of October and was removed from their 40-man roster. After that, he chose to become a free agent and sign with a new team.
Leibrandt was originally drafted by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2020, appearing in five games and throwing a total of nine innings. That was his only major league stint until this past season, when he made two more appearances with the Reds, pitching 6 1/3 innings.
Between his big league appearances, Leibrandt spent time in the minors with the Marlins and Cubs, and for most of 2023 and the start of 2024, he played outside affiliated baseball with the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League. Over 80 innings with the Rockers, Leibrandt posted a solid 2.70 ERA, which earned him a minor league contract with the Reds in May 2024.
Now 32 years old, Leibrandt is considered a late-blooming prospect, and the Yankees are taking a low-risk chance on him. With a career 7% walk rate in the minors, he could potentially offer MLB-caliber control, making him a useful depth option for the bullpen. The Yankees have had success in the past with undervalued pitchers, and they’ll bring Leibrandt to Spring Training to see if he can contribute at the big league level.
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