The New York Yankees have made a strategic addition to their pitching staff by signing right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet to a one-year contract for the Major League roster. At 29, Poteet brings both experience and a promising arm as he joins the Yankees after a period of recovery.
The 2023 season saw Poteet make a single start for Triple-A Omaha where he pitched two scoreless innings, marking a significant step in his comeback from Tommy John surgery—baseball’s renowned reconstructive elbow procedure—which he underwent in August the previous year.
Poteet’s Major League track record includes time with the Miami Marlins during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, where he posted a 4.45 ERA across 19 games, including nine starts. His stats from this stint include 53 strikeouts and 27 walks over 58.2 innings pitched, offering a glimpse of his capabilities on the mound.
Before signing with the Yankees, Poteet had a brief tenure with the Kansas City Royals on a minor league contract. He spent a considerable part of his career within the Marlins organization, where he honed his skills over seven seasons.
His minor league experience is extensive, with 104 appearances and 100 starts, yielding a 3.80 ERA. This background illustrates Poteet’s resilience and potential as a starting pitcher, despite a win-loss record that suggests room for growth in the right environment.
A native of San Diego, California, Poteet’s baseball journey traces back to his collegiate days at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was initially drafted in 2012 by the Washington Nationals but did not sign, eventually joining the Marlins as their fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft.
The Yankees’ move to acquire Poteet indicates their desire to reinforce their pitching options with an arm that has shown flashes of effectiveness at the Major League level. The team is evidently willing to invest in Poteet’s post-surgery potential, aiming to provide depth and versatility to their rotation or bullpen for the 2024 season.
