Every season brings top prospects a step closer to reaching their overall goal of making it to the show. With the New York Yankees’ injury situation, some names may take priority, even prematurely. One of those names is pitcher Eric Reyzelman.
What looked like one of the top starting rotations in the American League East turned into a huge question mark for the Yankees. The club is down right-hander Gerrit Cole for the season, and temporarily down right-hander Luis Gil until at least June.
Why does Reyzelman’s name stick out amid these concerns? He may be one of the few that’s finished cooking in the minors, and ready for the next step. The Yankees will have to plug in a temporary starter for Gil, and it seems Marcus Stroman has that job.
They will also need a permanent replacement for Cole for the year. This will have the ripple effect of shaking things up in the bullpen as well as the farm system.
The Yankees will rely on their development staff, getting guys like Eric Reyzelman ready for a stint in the big leagues.
Background: Yankees Prospect Right-Handed Pitcher Eric Reyzelman
The Yankees drafted Reyzelman only three years ago. From San Ramon, California, the pitcher started his collegiate career in the West Coast Conference of the NCAA, with the University of San Francisco.
Reyzelman spent his freshman and sophomore years with the Dons, then in 2022, he transferred to Louisiana State University where he raised his stock. The important part about the beginning of his college career was the fact that he underwent successful Tommy John surgery.
While at LSU, the right-hander occupied mainly a relief role, with some closing ability but more so short and long relief. Of the 42 1/3 innings pitched for LSU, he relieved in 29 of those appearances.
He finished his junior year with a 4.04 ERA, 66 strikeouts, 18 walks, and mid-90s fastball velocity with two more offspeed pitches. Reyzelman was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Yankees.
Reyzelman’s Analytic Overview and Evaluation
Reyzelman is a very artistic workhorse on the mound. He’s very aggressive and confident as a pitcher, and that’s partially because his short list of pitch options are highly effective in a short time frame of work.
The 6’2”, 188-pound right-hander has a strong build with a muscular frame. His wind carries good arm action with a 3/4 arm slot delivery. Reyzelman throws a ton of strikes, working corners, working the highs and lows, and placing pitches strategically.
Enjoy 21 seconds of @ReyzEric filth.
– fastball averages 96 mph (T-98.4)
– Slider gets 20 inches of HB and and -2.4″ iVB
– Changeup gets 13″ HB and -0.1″ iVB.Hop on the Eric Reyzelman train before it’s too late. pic.twitter.com/zVEnt9X25V
— Post Parm Volpe (@VolpeParm11) March 6, 2025
He attacks the zone early on, getting ahead in the count and working while at an advantage. Reyzelman employs three pitches, including a four-seam fastball that ranks 60 on the grade scale.
His fastball lives between 95-97 mph and has been up to 98-99 mph max. The right-hander works the corners and busts left-handed hitters inside, handcuffing them and forcing weak contact.
His slider is his out pitch, also ranking 60 on the grade scale with horizontal break and deceptive movement. This gets a lot of strikeouts and lazy protective hacks, and gives little to no room for pitching errors. His changeup is also deceptive, with a low fade traveling in the opposite direction.
Reyzelman pitched 38 2/3 innings in 2024 where he took quick promotions from Rookie ball to Double-A. He finished with a 1.16 ERA in 31 games (only one start), 13 games finished, and five saves. Reyzelman struck out 63 batters, walking only 19.
Reyzelman has made adjustments over the last two seasons, and has slowly been shaping his craft for further promotion. He’s currently ranked 23rd of the Top 30 Yankees prospects.
The prospect is expected to make his big league debut this season, and his arrival may be expedited due to the circumstances with the pitching staff in the Bronx.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
