The Yankees have developed a reputation for discovering bullpen talent, often picking up pitchers with potential and maximizing their abilities for a short time before moving on. Pitching coach Matt Blake has become a master of this process, finding arms to supplement injuries and fill gaps in relief. While the Yankees’ approach can sometimes take them in a problematic direction, over the course of a full season, it typically results in a top-10 bullpen without significant free-agent spending.
Jake Cousins: The Yankees’ Latest Hidden Gem
One of Blake’s most recent success stories is right-handed pitcher Jake Cousins. Formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers, Cousins spent three seasons with the team but pitched just 9.1 MLB innings last season. At 28 years old, he has quickly become one of the Yankees’ most trusted relief arms during the second half of the 2024 regular season.
Cousins has delivered an impressive 2.39 ERA over 37.2 innings this year. He’s struck out 12.42 batters per nine innings, boasts an 81.1% left-on-base rate, and induces a 42.1% ground ball rate. While his walk rate of 4.78 batters per nine is the lowest of his career, it’s an area for improvement as he looks to develop further. The Yankees are clearly invested in Cousins’ growth, as he’s only arbitration-eligible in 2026 and under team control until 2029.
Dominating with Underlying Metrics
Cousins ranks in the top half of the league in several key categories, including average exit velocity, whiff rate, chase rate, and strikeout rate. These underlying metrics suggest that he could become one of the best bullpen arms on the Yankees if he maintains his quality. Originally a 20th-round pick by the Washington Nationals in 2017, Cousins has developed into a player with exceptional tools, including one of the most dominant sliders in the league.