Brent Headrick’s Unexpected Success
Brent Headrick is experiencing a surprising turn in his baseball career. He never thought his contributions would be so significant.
Interestingly, only one pitcher, Mason Fluharty from the Blue Jays, has played in more games this season (63) than Headrick’s 62. Like Headrick, Fluharty won’t be pitching until October.
“If someone told me I’d be playing in 60 games, I’d probably think they were crazy,” Headrick mentioned before he pitched a scoreless eighth inning in the Yankees’ 10-5 victory over the Mariners. It’s been a challenging year, yet also a lot of fun. ”
The Yankees’ relief pitchers have had no earned runs in 52 games this year—this is the highest in Major League Baseball and also a franchise record for the first 120 games. Headrick continues to impress, giving up just three earned runs over his past 30 innings. Overall, he has logged 61⅓ innings this season with a stellar 1.47 ERA.
Headrick has a solid chance to break the Yankees’ record for most games pitched in a single season. Paul Quantrill holds the top spot with 86 games in 2004, while Scott Proctor follows with 83 games in 2006. Headrick seems to be on track to equal Proctor’s mark.
“He’s worked hard, especially during the winter. Those off-season training programs really set up a player for success throughout the year. He’s definitely committed,” Yankees coach Aaron Boone said before the game. “Even with all the work, we’ve tried to manage his workload, making sure he’s not overexerting himself on certain days.”
Ideally, Headrick would be playing fewer games and innings, but this season has been different. He has handled the pressure remarkably well.
Headrick expressed that he feels good and is managing the intense workload. He prepared differently this year because it marked his first as a dedicated relief pitcher. Previously, he often pitched for multiple innings, but the Yankees adjusted his training regimen to help him adapt to shorter outings.
“I’ve focused on training more frequently and with increased intensity. Instead of throwing 50 or 60 pitches like some starters do, I’m now aiming for 15 to 20 pitches, but doing it more often. It’s been better for me to limit my bullpen sessions so that I can throw with more frequency,” he explained.
It’s quite an achievement for a 28-year-old. A ninth-round draft pick in 2019, Headrick was waived in February 2025 before being picked up by the Yankees. Upon joining the team in Tampa, the Yankees recognized his potential as a relief pitcher, and since then, he has truly flourished.
