The New York Yankees are bringing back a familiar face after a season of bullpen struggles.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees brought back Desi Druschel to be Matt Blake’s assistant pitching coach after Druschel spent a season as a member of the New York Mets‘ staff.
Druschel was given permission to speak with other clubs after the Mets let go of pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. The 50-year-old had been in the Yankees organization since 2019 — crossing over with Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, when he was a longtime coach in the Yankees organization before getting the bench boss role in 2024.
Druschel was a member of the Yankees staff from 2022-24, helping them twice reach the postseason and win the pennant and advance to the World Series in 2024.
Desi Druschel May Replace Mike Harkey
Blake has overseen an extremely successful pitching-development program with the Yankees, reviving the careers of journeymen relievers like Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes and others. Yet, this season, without Druschel’s support, the Yankees relievers cratered.
A season after finishing with the sixth-best bullpen ERA (3.62) — even despite Holmes’ 13 blown saves which is why Weaver usurped him as closer in the postseason — the Yankees were 23rd in the league in ERA (4.37) from their relievers.
That was considered a main factor why longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey was dismissed shortly after the Yankees’ season ended in four games in the American League Division Series by the eventual AL champion Toronto Blue Jays.
So bringing Druschel back, to join Blake and fellow assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne — the latter of whom replaced him — adds a familiar face, with whom many Yankees pitchers are familiar.
But considering the Yankees bullpen will have considerably more new faces — notably trade-deadline-acquisitions Camilo Doval, David Bednar, Jake Bird, plus any other new additions Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the Yankees decide to sign/trade for this off-season — Druschel will have the chance to make an impact while working for Blake.
Other Bullpen Changes Are Coming For The Yankees
The Yankees may be filling out their coaching staff first, but the Yankees’ relief corps is going to be drastically different.
A flock of oft-injured and ineffective relievers, like Mark Leiter Jr., Ian Hamilton, Scott Effross and Jake Cousins, are likely to be non-tendered. Plus, high-leverage relievers Weaver and Devin Williams are likely to depart via free agency.
The Yankees have operated via trades to acquire high-leverage relievers mainly — proven by their acquisition of Williams, the All-Star closer who lost his spot first to Weaver then to Bednar after his early-season struggles.
But with their high-leverage guys in place, look for Cashman to fill in the gaps with lower-profile moves — or even the likes of 2025 contributors Yerry De Los Santons, Allan Winans, Brett Headrick and others.
Still, it could be argued 2026 will be an even more important season than 2025, since the Yankees’ starting rotation will be stacked — especially once Gerrit Cole returns from Tommy John surgery.
The urgency to win will be even greater, especially with a lights out back end of the bullpen, which means Cashman may try to further improve it.
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