The Yankees introduced Sunday that right-hander Matt Sauer had been returned to the group by the Royals.
The 25-year-old was chosen by Kansas Metropolis with the second-overall choose within the 2023 Rule 5 Draft however was designated for task earlier this week. Evidently, Sauer cleared waivers, which means the Royals needed to supply Sauer again to New York for $50K.
The Yankees pulled the set off on that supply and have assigned him to Triple-A.
Sauer was New York’s second-round choose within the 2017 draft and had spent his profession previous to the 2024 season climbing the minor league ladder earlier than finally topping out on the Double-A stage. The righty was spectacular in 14 appearances (13 begins) on the stage final yr as he pitched to a 3.42 ERA with a 29.5% strikeout price in 68 1/3 innings of labor.
That efficiency was clearly sufficient for the Royals to take a shot on Sauer, and he impressed in 10 2/3 innings of labor throughout Spring Coaching with a 2.53 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
That spring efficiency was sufficient for the Royals to supply Sauer a spot on their Opening Day roster, and he responded by delivering strong outcomes all through the month of April with a 2.38 ERA in 11 1/3 innings of labor. That being mentioned, Sauer’s peripherals left one thing to be desired as evidenced by his 17% stroll price and 9.4% strikeout price throughout that point.
Sadly, Sauer’s outcomes started to catch as much as his peripherals in Might as he was lit as much as the tune of a 19.80 ERA in 5 appearances all through the month, prompting the membership’s determination to designate him for task.
Had been the Royals nonetheless the rebuilding membership many anticipated them to be coming into the 2024 marketing campaign, it’s potential they’d have retained Sauer on the roster for longer in hopes he may proper the ship. Sadly for the righty, Kansas Metropolis has performed like something however a rebuilding membership this yr with a unbelievable 34-19 report that places it answerable for the highest AL Wild Card spot and simply 1.5 video games again of the Guardians for first place in a surprisingly aggressive AL Central division.
Given the Royals’ arrival as contenders, the membership evidently determined it couldn’t afford to cover Sauer in its remaining bullpen spot.
That’s nice information for the Yankees, who have been in a position to re-acquire Sauer when he went unclaimed on waivers. Now again within the minors together with his unique membership, Sauer figures to proceed his improvement on the Triple-A stage and await his subsequent large league alternative whereas serving as non-roster depth for New York alongside non-roster veterans comparable to Phil Bickford and Duane Underwood Jr.
