A reinforcement is getting closer (literally) to aiding a thin Yankees bullpen.
Scott Effross’ rehab assignment was moved from Low-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he was expected to make a third minor league appearance Wednesday night.
In his first two outings with Tampa, the righty threw three scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out four.
Effross is not on the cusp of a 2024 debut — “he’s still got a ways to go,” manager Aaron Boone said — but he could become an option in the coming weeks.
The Yankees are trying to be careful with a pitcher who has undergone a pair of surgeries that have kept him off the field for a season and a half.
Effross last pitched on Oct. 3, 2022, after which he required Tommy John surgery that ensured he would miss that year’s postseason and the entirety of last season.
His comeback then got stalled by December 2023 back surgery that meant he would open this year on the 60-day injured list.
Before the setbacks began, Effross appeared to be a solid bullpen piece.
Acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from the Cubs, the now 30-year-old let up three earned runs in 12 ²/₃ innings with 12 strikeouts before the surgeries started.
The Yankees’ bullpen will accept him as soon as he is ready.
The once-stout unit has been hit hard this month — bringing a 4.54 June ERA into Wednesday’s Subway Series finale at Citi Field — and has lost significant arms in Ian Hamilton, Nick Burdi and Jonathan Loaisiga.
Victor Gonzalez, whom the Yankees designated for assignment on Friday, will remain in the organization.
The lefty cleared waivers and was outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Aaron Judge entered play with 29 home runs in the Yankees’ first 81 games and a major league-leading 75 RBIs to go with a .304 batting average that began the night as third best in the American League.
He has been on fire since the end of April and entered play with eight home runs in his previous 14 games.
His 1.128 OPS entered the night 95 points above Shohei Ohtani’s 1.033.
“It’s hard to wrap your brain around now, just what level he’s playing at,” Boone said. “Especially in this time of the game where it’s really hard to hit. We’re at about a .700 OPS league average probably right now, and to see him almost 100 points higher than Ohtani, and that’s off the heels of a rough April.
“It’s just really impressive.”