The Yankees will try to leave behind their ugly sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox starting on Monday, kicking off a three-game set at home against the Detroit Tigers. They will do so with a new face in the bullpen or, rather, an old friend getting another shot: Jake Bird.
The right-hander was sent to Triple-A on June 20th, when the Yankees needed a roster spot for an Elmer Rodríguez start. He was recalled from Scranton on Monday, as the Bombers placed closer David Bednar on the paternity list.
The team announced the transaction via their social media channels.
It’s unclear who will act as the Yankees’ primary ninth-inning option while Bednar is gone, but right-hander Fernando Cruz and southpaw Brent Headrick figure to be part of the mix depending on matchups. If Cruz is called upon, he’ll need to quickly erase the memory of how the Yankees’ recent sweep at the hands of the Red Sox came to a close.
Bird last pitched in the majors on that June 20th game against the Cincinnati Reds, tossing a scoreless inning and allowing one hit in the process. He has thrown 24 frames for New York this year, with a 4.88 ERA, seven walks, and 27 strikeouts.
While he has been much better than in his short 2025 cameo in pinstripes, Bird remains susceptible to the long ball, surrendering 1.5 homers per nine innings. His swing-and-miss ability, however, is an asset, particularly against right-handed hitters. Bird pitched just one game in Scranton in his most recent stint there, on June 24th, completing 1.1 scoreless innings and striking out two.
On the other hand, the new father has left behind a somewhat rocky start to the season and currently owns a rock-solid 3.09 ERA as the Yankees’ closer, with a 2.67 FIP, 16 saves, and a 27-percent strikeout rate in 35 frames in 2026. Bednar will be missed for as long as he’s gone, but should be back in a few days. After throwing two innings last night, he probably would’ve sat today against Detroit regardless. We send our best to his family on a safe delivery.
