Padres' Jhony Brito: Works in long relief Saturday
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Brito struck out two over 2.1 perfect innings of relief Saturday in the Padres' 9-6 loss to the Giants.
Brito's appearance was already his third of the season. He had previously given up two earned runs while recording just one out while taking the loss in the Padres' season opener against the Dodgers on March 20 in South Korea, then was charged with another blown save after yielding two runs and recording one out in San Diego's domestic home opener Thursday versus the Giants. After the Padres returned home from the two-game series in Seoul, South Korea, Brito still looked to be a candidate for the vacant fifth spot in the San Diego rotation, but manager Mike Shildt ultimately elected to go with knuckleballer Matt Waldron for that role. Despite his two rocky appearances to begin the season, Brito's strong showing in long relief of Dylan Cease on Saturday could position him to be next in line for the rotation if the Padres should lose a starting pitcher at some point.
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Padres' Jhony Brito: Continues bid for rotation spot
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Brito allowed five hits and struck out six over 3.1 scoreless innings during Monday's exhibition against the Cubs. He didn't factor into the decision.
Brito has looked sharp so far this spring, surrendering three runs on nine hits while striking out 10 over 8.1 innings of work. He's also yet to issue a walk. The 26-year-old has put himself in a good position early on to win a spot in San Diego's starting rotation, though his work is far from over, as Matt Waldron has also been a bright spot thus far for the Padres.
The Yankees traded Brito, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Kyle Higashioka to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Brito logged a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 90.1 innings in his first major-league season last year. While his stats may not jump off the page, he showed promise toward the end of the season when the Yankees moved him to the bullpen. However, considering the Padres are currently thin on major-league rotation arms, Brito may resume duties as a starter in 2024.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Notches first career save
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Brito gave up a solo home run and struck out three over 3.2 relief innings Friday to record his first career save in a 7-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
A hit-by-pitch and a ninth-inning blast by Christian Walker were the only blemishes on Brito's line. The 25-year-old right-hander has been outstanding in a long relief role down the stretch -- over five September appearances spanning 15 innings, Brito's collected three wins in addition to Friday's save with a 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Continues to shine in bulk relief
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Brito (8-7) earned the win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, striking out three batters over three perfect innings out of the bullpen.
Luke Weaver handled the first four frames for New York, with Brito taking over in the fifth. Brito rolled through nine batters, fanning three and throwing 32 of 47 pitches for strikes. The rookie right-hander was up-and-down in a starting role earlier this season, but he seems to have found his groove recently as a bulk reliever. Since moving into that role Aug. 24, Brito has posted a 1.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB over 17 innings across six appearances while picking up four wins against one loss.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Sharp in seventh win
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Brito (7-7) picked up the win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, allowing three hits and a walk over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.
Randy Vasquez got the start and looked good through three innings, but when he began to fade in the fourth, Brito stepped in and was even more effective, firing 29 of 38 pitches for strikes. The two rookie right-handers combined for what would have qualified as a quality start from a single pitcher -- two earned runs over six frames -- and the Yankees may consider keeping them together in a tandem arrangement to fill their fifth starter spot over the final weeks of the season. Brito is thriving in his current long-relief role, grabbing three wins in his last five appearances while posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB through 14 innings.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Could move into rotation
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Brito is a candidate to replace the injured Luis Severino (side) in the Yankees' rotation, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Severino was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday after leaving Friday's start early due to an injury to his left side. Brito took over for him in the fifth frame, allowing a run on three hits and a walk while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings. Though the rookie right-hander has been coming out of the bullpen of late, 13 of his 20 big-league outings have been as a starter, and he's compiled a 4.83 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 57:26 K:BB over 76.1 innings overall. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Brito and Randy Vasquez are both in the running to take Severino's spot in the rotation moving forward.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Collects sixth win
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Brito (6-6) picked up the win Saturday in a 5-4 victory over the Astros, scattering two hits over 3.2 scoreless relief innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.
Luis Severino got the hook after four innings, and Brito's sharp relief outing allowed him to get credited with his second straight win. With Michael King still getting stretched out and Severino struggling, there's been plenty of long-relief work for Brito since he rejoined the big-league staff in August, and aside from a rough appearance against the Red Sox on Aug. 18 he's been mostly successful with the assignment, allowing one run or fewer in four of his five trips to the mound and compiling a 4.32 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 16.2 innings.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Nabs win in bulk relief
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Brito (5-6) earned the win over the Tigers on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.1 scoreless innings.
Michael King started the game for the Yankees and put up four scoreless innings. Brito followed and nearly replicated King's line with 3.1 scoreless frames of his own, benefitting from King not going deep enough to qualify for the win by nabbing it for himself. Brito has worked behind King in three of his four appearances since his latest elevation from the minors, giving up just two runs and posting a 10:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings in that role. Given that the rookie right-hander struggled in his lone start during that span, yielding seven runs (six earned) over 2.1 frames against the Red Sox on Aug. 18, it wouldn't be surprising if New York opts to continue what has been an effective King-Brito 1-2 punch moving forward.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Set to work in bulk relief
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Brito will serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Michael King in Thursday's game against the Nationals, Seth Rothman of YES Network reports.
King has maxed out at 3.2 innings over his 41 appearances this season and will be pitching on three days rest, so he's unlikely to work deep into the game before turning things over to Brito, who is expected to be tasked with covering multiple frames in relief. Though Brito's innings count will likely be capped more coming out of the bullpen than if he were operating as a traditional starter, he should have a better chance at factoring into the decision while he works in bulk relief.
Brito (4-6) took the loss Friday, yielding seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over just 2.1 frames against the Red Sox. He struck out one.
The Red Sox jumped on Brito early and often, as each of the first four batters of the game reached and scored. He labored in the second inning as well, ultimately needing 46 pitches to cover his 2.1 innings. With Carlos Rodon (hamstring) set to return early next week and Luis Severino remaining in the rotation for now, Brito could be headed back to the minors.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: In line to start Friday
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Brito is lined up to start or work as a bulk reliever in Friday's game against the Red Sox, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Randy Vasquez and Brito both are getting second turns through the rotation after the two rejoined the big club last week to replace the injured Carlos Rodon (hamstring) and Nestor Cortes (shoulder), respectively. Brito has previously made 12 starts for the Yankees this season, but he thrived as a bulk reliever his last time out Saturday in Miami, where he struck out six and gave up one run on three hits and no walks over five innings. Rodon threw a five-inning simulated game Wednesday and looks like he could be ready to return from the IL next week, but Brito could stick in the rotation if he turns in another quality showing Friday and if the Yankees elect to move the struggling Luis Severino to the bullpen.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Fans six in bulk-relief role
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Brito tossed five innings against the Marlins on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out six batters.
Michael King opened the game for New York and took the loss, but Brito handled the biggest workload with five frames and 69 pitches. The rookie was very effective in that role, holding Miami to one run while racking up six punchouts. The Yankees' rotation is in a bit of disarray right now with Domingo German (personal) out for the season, Nestor Cortes (shoulder) and Carlos Rodon (hamstring) on the injured list, and Luis Severino struggling mightily. Though Brito has an uninspiring 4.76 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 62.1 major-league innings this season, he's pitched to a 3.27 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB over his past 22 frames and could be in line to remain with the big club, either as a bulk reliever or a starter, following Saturday's strong outing.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Likely to work in bulk relief
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Brito is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind starter Michael King in Saturday's game in Miami, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
King is making his first start of the season and has maxed out at 3.1 innings across 38 appearances, and since he'll be taking the hill on three days' rest, he should provide more length than the typical opener. Even so, Brito -- who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday -- should be tasked with working multiple innings behind King and is probably the Yankees pitcher most likely to factor into any decision. The Yankees are relying on the King/Brito tandem to help fill the rotation spot of Nestor Cortes (shoulder), who went back on the 15-day injured list Friday.
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Yankees' Jhony Brito: Elevated from Triple-A
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The Yankees recalled Brito from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
Brito looks poised to fill the rotation spot left vacant by Nestor Cortes, who has landed back on the injured list because of a rotator cuff strain. The rookie could be in line to start or work as a primary pitcher Saturday in Miami.
Brito was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Sunday's loss to the Astros.
Brito served as a reliever during Sunday's matchup and allowed no hits and two walks while striking out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. He's had shaky results this season and will attempt to right the ship in the minors.
