Yankees Call Up Veteran Pitcher Justin Topa: What You Need to Know

The Big News

The New York Yankees are getting ready to add a new pitcher to their team. His name is Justin Topa, and he’s a 35-year-old veteran who throws with his right hand. Think of him like an experienced substitute teacher who’s been called in to help out when the regular teachers are sick.

IMPORTANT POINT
This move isn’t official yet! The Yankees have the day off, so we might not hear the formal announcement until tomorrow.

Why Are the Yankees Doing This?

The Short Answer

Their bullpen (the group of pitchers who come in late in games) needs help, and Topa has been pitching well in the minor leagues recently.

The Longer Answer (In Simple Steps)

1. Giancarlo Stanton is hurt… again
   The Yankees’ big slugger has been out since April with a calf injury. He tried to come back but got hurt again during a practice game. Since he’ll be out for a long time, the team can put him on the "60-day injured list."

2. This opens a roster spot
   Baseball teams can only have 40 players on their main roster. Moving Stanton to the 60-day IL frees up one of those precious spots.

3. Topa needs that spot
   He’s not currently on the 40-man roster, so the Yankees have to officially "select his contract" to bring him up.

Who Is Justin Topa? (ELI5 Version)

Imagine a pitcher who:

• Is 35 years old (that’s old for a baseball player!)
• Has bounced around a lot — He’s played for several teams in just the last few months
• Had some really good years — In 2023, he was one of the better relievers in baseball with the Seattle Mariners
• Has had lots of injuries — His body has given him trouble throughout his career
• Throws a heavy sinking fastball — His specialty is making the ball drop suddenly, causing batters to hit the ball on the ground

Topa’s Rollercoaster Year

His Triple-A Numbers (The Good & The Not-So-Good)

The Good:

• 1.75 ERA (runs allowed per 9 innings) in 25⅔ innings
• Only 1 run allowed in 5 innings since joining Yankees’ affiliate
• Good walk rate (8%) — he throws strikes!
• Good ground-ball rate (45.9%) — batters hit the ball on the ground

The Concerning:

• Very low strikeout rate (13.3%) — batters aren’t swinging and missing
• Fastball velocity down from 95 mph (peak) to ~93.9 mph
• Had to abandon his slider because batters were crushing it (2 HRs, 1 double off it)

What Kind of Pitcher Is He Now?

Think of Topa as a "contact manager" rather than a "strikeout artist."

• He throws strikes — You won’t see him walking lots of batters
• He gets ground balls — When batters hit the ball, it’s usually on the ground (easier for fielders to handle)
• He doesn’t miss many bats — Batters make contact, but hopefully weak contact
• He’s changed his pitch mix — Threw his slider way less, uses a cutter (like a fast slider) more now

The Catch: He Can’t Be Sent Down

IMPORTANT RULE ALERT
Because Topa has more than 5 years of major league service time, he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his permission. This means:

1. He MUST stay on the big league roster
2. If he pitches poorly, the Yankees can’t just demote him
3. They’d have to designate him for assignment (DFA) — basically cut him and hope no other team claims him
4. This makes the decision to call him up higher stakes than usual

Career Snapshot (In Plain English)

In 168⅔ career major league innings (about 2 full seasons of relief work):

• ERA: 4.27 (about average)
• Strikeouts: 19.2% (below average)
• Walks: 7.1% (good — he throws strikes)
• Ground balls: 52.9% (very good — keeps the ball out of the air)

What This Means for the Yankees

Potential Upside

• Adds a veteran arm who throws strikes and gets ground balls
• Could be a useful piece in the bullpen mix
• Postseason eligible if added now (big plus for October baseball!)

Realistic Expectations

• Not the 2023 version (that guy had 95 mph heat and struck everyone out)
• More like a reliable "bridge" pitcher — get a few outs, keep the game close, hand off to the next guy
• High variance — Could help, could struggle, hard to predict at 35 with reduced velocity

Summary

The Yankees are calling up Justin Topa, a 35-year-old reliever who’s been pitching well in Triple-A after a rough start to the year with the Twins. To make room, they’ll move injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day IL. Topa’s best days (2.61 ERA in 2023) are likely behind him due to age, injuries, and lost velocity, but he still throws strikes and generates ground balls. Because he has 5+ years of service time, he must stay on the big league roster — no sending him down if he struggles. He’d be playoff-eligible, but this is very much a "let’s see what he can do" move.

FAQ

Why would the Yankees want a 35-year-old who got released by the Twins?

A: Because he’s been really good in Triple-A since then (1.75 ERA), and the Yankees’ bullpen needs depth. Sometimes a change of scenery or a mechanical tweak helps a pitcher rediscover their form.

What’s the 40-man roster and why does it matter?

A: It’s the list of players a team can call up to the majors at any time. Teams only get 40 spots. Topa wasn’t on it, so the Yankees had to clear a spot (by moving Stanton to the 60-day IL) to add him.

What does "can’t be optioned" mean?

A: Normally, teams can send struggling players down to the minors to work on things. Players with 5+ years of major league service time (like Topa) have the right to refuse a minor league assignment. So the Yankees are stuck with him on the big league roster — for better or worse.

Why did he stop throwing his slider?

A: Batters were hitting it really hard early in the year (2 home runs, 1 double). When a pitch gets crushed that much, pitchers often shelve it and rely on other pitches — in Topa’s case, a cutter.

Is this a sign the Yankees are giving up on the season?

A: Not at all! It’s actually the opposite — they’re adding a postseason-eligible arm for the stretch run. It’s a low-risk, potentially medium-reward move for a team trying to win now.