Ian Hamilton DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Yankees right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton (calf) faced hitters in a live batting practice session at spring training on Thursday. Hamilton should be ready for Opening Day in late March after injuring his calf in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series last October against the Cleveland Guardians. In his second season in the Bronx in 2024, Hamilton produced a 3.82 ERA (3.03 FIP), a 1.35 WHIP, one save, 41 strikeouts and 14 walks in 37 2/3 relief innings in the regular season. He's been productive out of the Yankees' bullpen when healthy, but he battled through multiple injuries last year for the second straight season. Despite his injury concerns, the 29-year-old's swing-and-miss stuff makes him interesting in deeper fantasy leagues for his well above-average strikeout rate.

After New York Yankees right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton (calf) suffered a left-calf injury in the loss in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday to the Cleveland Guardians, the Yankees removed him from the playoff roster and replaced him with right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. It's a tough break for the 29-year-old, as he now will not be eligible to play in the World Series if the Yankees advance past Cleveland. He allowed an earned run on one hit while walking one and striking out three in just 1 2/3 relief innings in his first postseason with the team this year. The 33-year-old Leiter will now give the Yankees extra depth out of the bullpen the rest of the way. Leiter began the year with the Cubs and had a 4.98 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 33:9 K:BB in just 21 2/3 relief innings for the Yankees in the second half.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Ian Hamilton (calf) suffered left-calf tightness in his outing in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Guardians. Hamilton injured himself trying to make a play at first base in the sixth inning and was pulled after recording just one out. In one-third of an inning pitched, he allowed an earned run and a walk. It's unclear how severe the 29-year-old's injury is, but if the Yankees are forced to take him off the roster for the ALCS, he won't be eligible to pitch in the World Series if New York advances past the Guardians. Thursday's outing was only his second postseason appearance, with his first coming in the AL Division Series against the Royals, when he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in the Game 2 loss on Oct. 7.

New York Yankees right-hander Ian Hamilton (back, lat) was scratched from his minor-league outing on Friday at Double-A Somerset due to back spasms, according to manager Aaron Boone. It's pretty disappointing for Hamilton and the Yankees, as he was most likely going to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list on Saturday if he got through his outing on Friday unscathed. The 29-year-old has been out of action since the middle of June due to a right-lat strain, and now he's dealing with back issues. Hamilton struck out six over 2 1/3 scoreless innings for Somerset on Aug. 24 and 27. It's unclear how much time this setback will cost him, but with a month left in the season, he should be able to make it back to New York's bullpen before the end of the regular season. Hamilton has a 4.55 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 30 strikeouts in his 29 2/3 relief innings for the Yanks in 2024.

New York Yankees right-hander Ian Hamilton (lat) is scheduled to resume throwing live batting practice sessions this week. Hamilton is ready to take the next step after throwing a few successful bullpen sessions. If the 29-year-old reliever can get through a few live BP sessions, he'll be ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. The former 11th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2016 out of Washington State was struggling before his injury, posting a 4.55 ERA (3.31 FIP) and 1.58 WHIP with 30 strikeouts and 14 walks in 29 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his second year in the Bronx. Barring a setback with his lat, it's possible that Hamilton can be an option for New York's bullpen again before the end of August.