Brendan Beck finally receives his opportunity with the Yankees after a tough battle with injuries

Brendan Beck’s Journey With the Yankees

When the Yankees picked Brendan Beck in the second round of the 2021 draft, there were great expectations. Coming out of Stanford University, he seemed like a promising talent.

However, shortly after joining the team, he faced a significant setback: a UCL tear that necessitated Tommy John surgery. That was just the start of a rocky path for the now 27-year-old right-handed pitcher. He underwent several elbow surgeries, one of which sidelined him for all of 2024. Nonetheless, he finally managed to play a complete season in 2025.

Last year, he pitched a solid 131 1/3 innings across Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset without major issues. That performance fueled his confidence that he might break into the majors this season.

“My goal last year was simply to pitch the entire season,” Beck expressed during spring training in Tampa. “If you’re not available, you can’t help the team. I was there from start to finish and managed the workload well. Before my injury, I always started every game in college and considered myself that type of pitcher.”

With Jerry de los Santos stepping in for Will Warren and pitching only 3 1/3 innings in relief on Wednesday, the Yankees needed fresh arms. Beck’s first call-up to the big leagues made a timely impact on Thursday.

“I want to be someone they view as a reliable option, not just another player associated with injuries,” Beck said. “I don’t want to be overlooked.”

Although he hasn’t been at his peak this season, Beck has shown glimpses of his talent in two of his last three starts for SWB. He felt well-rested and ready to pitch multiple innings against the Yankees in the Bronx.

Beck aims to establish himself in the majors rather than remain a sporadic contributor. He’s aware that he doesn’t have the highly regarded skill sets of his younger teammates, like Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos LaGrange.

“They’re a lot younger than I am,” Beck noted back in March. “I don’t possess the same raw talent, but I know how to pitch.”

This sentiment resonates with Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees’ vice president of national amateur scouting, who initially drafted Beck. He had remarked that Beck was close to realizing his potential and didn’t have much left to develop, primarily just needing to accumulate innings.

The vision of becoming a high-end starter remains uncertain, but Beck is encouraged to be on the verge of reaching the majors. “When I got drafted, I was convinced I’d make it to the big leagues. It required a lot of dedicated effort, but I consider myself a major league pitcher. That mindset hasn’t changed.”