NEW YORK – The Yankees had just completed taking their annual team photo in center field on Wednesday afternoon. And as Aaron Judge walked through the clubhouse in full pinstripes, he pointed toward a familiar face – one in a uniform that looked foreign.
Michael Fulmer was standing at the opposite end of the room, the veteran right-hander in his first hours as a member of the Yankees’ pitching staff. Judge found his new teammate, welcoming him with an embrace, and now manager Aaron Boone will be tasked with figuring out how all the new pieces fit.
“They’re probably going to jump into the deep end,” Boone said. “It’s that time of year. The reality is, on any given day … they’re going to find themselves in leverage situations.”
Boone was true to his word, calling on Fulmer to protect a lead in the eighth inning Wednesday night against the Astros. Fulmer pitched a perfect frame in the Yankees' 9-3 win.
Fulmer arrived in the Bronx as the Yankees continued to shuffle their pitching staff ahead of Wednesday’s game, placing right-hander Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list.
Boone said after Wednesday’s game that Cruz has been diagnosed with a partial tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament. Cruz is seeking a second opinion, but surgery is on the table.
Cruz surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Jeremy Peña in Tuesday’s 9-7 loss to Houston. He was seen leaving the clubhouse with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, and Boone said the subsequent testing signaled the IL stint.
“It was late last night,” Boone said. “He just felt like something on one of his pitches maybe didn’t feel right.”
Cruz was sent for imaging on Wednesday. The 36-year-old right-hander has a 5.52 ERA in 17 appearances since the All-Star break; he said late Wednesday that he has been dealing with mechanical and grip issues.
Fulmer joins Justin Topa, who was added to the roster on Tuesday, as the Yankees look to plug vacancies on their pitching staff until Max Fried, Clarke Schmidt and Ryan Weathers are ready to return.
Elmer Rodríguez started Wednesday night’s game at Yankee Stadium, with Fried likely set to return for one of the games of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Red Sox. Schmidt and Weathers are further down the line as potential bullpen options.
The 33-year-old Fulmer made three relief appearances with the Angels this season. He has spent the majority of the year in Triple-A with Sacramento (Giants) and Salt Lake (Angels), combining to go 4-2 with 10 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 38 appearances.
“I’m a big proponent of getting outs any way I can,” Fulmer said. “If it’s three line drives at the shortstop and a zero on the scoreboard, it’s all that really matters to me. I don’t want to say it’s an old-school way of pitching or thinking, but I do believe that zero is the most important thing.”
The Angels designated Fulmer for assignment on Sunday, and he elected free agency on Tuesday, signing a Minor League deal with the Yankees. Fulmer was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2016, edging the Yankees’ Gary Sánchez.
“He’s a guy that has had a good season and is throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “Hopefully he can come here and grab a role. There’s opportunity there.”
The Yankees also optioned right-hander Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and transferred right-hander Kervin Castro to the 60-day injured list.
Castro, who has been dealing with right elbow neuritis, is scheduled to see Dr. Keith Meister to explore surgery.