CLEVELAND – Ian Hamilton’s season has come to an end.
The Yankees removed the reliever from their ALCS roster on Friday after he suffered a calf injury in Game 3 of the series on Thursday. Mark Leiter Jr. took Hamilton’s spot with Major League Baseball’s approval after the league’s medical director, Dr. Gary Green, reviewed medical information.
Teams must request permission from the commissioner’s office for injury substitutions during the postseason. In accordance with the rules, Hamilton is now ineligible to pitch in the World Series if the Yankees advance.
Hamilton felt tightness in his left calf after covering first base on a groundball in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ Game 3 loss. As the Yankees challenged and had the call changed from safe to out, Hamilton threw a warmup pitch.
It sailed over Jose Trevino’s head and to the backstop. As Hamilton spun off the mound, the catcher called for Aaron Boone and a trainer.
Hamilton, who underwent an MRI, was pitching in just his second game of the postseason. The right-hander logged a 3.82 ERA over 35 regular season games. Hamilton spent a week on the COVID-19 injured list and missed a few months with a lat strain.
While inconsistent earlier in the year, the 2023 breakout had a 1.13 ERA over eight regular season games after returning from the lat injury.
Hamilton’s replacement wasn’t as effective.
Acquired from the Cubs before trade deadline, Leiter was supposed to boost the Yankees’ bullpen. Instead, he recorded a 4.98 ERA over 21 games with the club.
The righty has never pitched in the postseason, but he was on the Yankees’ travel roster. Leiter last pitched in the team’s regular season finale on Sept. 29.
