How a 2022 All-Star Pitched His Way into the Yankees Circle of Trust

The irony of the news surrounding Fernando Cruz is that his absence has opened an even bigger opportunity for a pitcher who, until recently, was a poster child for career uncertainty. Paul Blackburn has pitched for three Major League teams, and for much of his career, his medical history seemed nearly as extensive as his pitching résumé. That changed when the New York Yankees took a chance on the former 2022 all-star. What began as a low-risk reclamation project has developed into something much more valuable: a pitcher the Yankees increasingly trust in the biggest moments.

The timing could hardly be more important. This Yankees bullpen has been heavily taxed, while injuries have continued to complicate the pitching staff. Cruz, one of New York’s key relievers, was placed on the injured list with right-elbow discomfort after struggling in the second half. He was subsequently diagnosed with a partial tear of his UCL, creating a significant void as the Yankees look toward October. Kervin Castro has also been moved to the 60-day injured list.

That leaves Blackburn, once viewed primarily as depth, in a much more prominent position. A first-round draft selection of the Chicago Cubs in 2012, Blackburn was still a high school pitcher at Heritage High School in Brentwood, California, when the Cubs selected him 56th overall. The organization clearly believed it had identified a special talent. Yet, patience was in short supply, and he was traded twice before making his Major League debut with the Athletics in 2017.

His career was then repeatedly interrupted by injuries. A comebacker ended his rookie season, and subsequent health problems limited his availability. After finally putting together a healthy 2022 season and earning his first all-star selection with the Athletics, Blackburn endured another difficult stretch that included a foot injury, a cerebrospinal-fluid leak repair, and a right-knee injury. The constant interruptions made consistency difficult to find.

Then came New York, where Oakland traded him in 2024. His Mets tenure ultimately ended with the organization releasing him in August 2025, allowing the Yankees to take a chance on a pitcher whose best qualities were potentially better suited to a different role. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and the organization saw something worth developing. When New York signed him in August 2025, manager Aaron Boone envisioned him in a long-relief role rather than simply returning him to the rotation.

The initial results were hardly spectacular. Blackburn posted a 5.28 ERA in 15⅓ innings over eight relief appearances. Yet, there was enough underneath the surface for the Yankees to remain interested. He struck out 16 batters, and his final seven regular-season appearances produced a 1.50 ERA over 12 innings while also making the Yankees’ postseason roster. This convinced the organization to bring him back. In January, the Yankees signed him to a one-year, two million contract, with additional incentives tied to innings pitched. The deal looked like inexpensive insurance. It now looks like one of the better bets the Yankees have made. He has contributed to the corps of the Yankees bullpen that has surprised many in 2026.

The organization helped him fully embrace the bullpen role, while adjustments to his pitch usage have made him considerably more effective. They emphasized his sinkers and cutters while junking the sweeper. The results have been striking. In 2026, he has thrown 74 innings, his third-most in his career, posting a 6-2 record, a 1.70 ERA, and 70 strikeouts in 51 games while generating a 60.3 percent ground-ball rate. This is the sort of transformation that changes a player's status inside a clubhouse. Blackburn went from a pitcher fighting to establish his place on the roster to one of the Yankees’ most dependable multi-inning weapons. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake compared his expanding role to what happened with Luke Weaver, another pitcher whose value increased as the organization discovered how to deploy him most effectively.

The comparison is particularly appropriate. Just like Weaver, Blackburn does not need to be a traditional closer to be indispensable. His value comes from his versatility. The 2022 all-star can enter a game before the final inning, handle multiple frames, and protect the bullpen from being forced to use several pitchers in succession. For a team dealing with rotation uncertainty and an overworked relief corps, that ability is enormous.

Now the Yankees need him even more. With Cruz sidelined and Castro unavailable, the path to important late-inning work has opened further. Recent reporting identifies Blackburn alongside David Bednar and Brent Headrick as likely fixtures of the Yankees’ postseason bullpen, assuming health. The 2022 all-star is no longer merely the former starter who can eat innings when the Yankees need someone to bridge a game. Now, he has become part of the bridge to the back end.

That distinction matters. A pitcher trusted to enter in the middle innings is useful. A pitcher trusted to enter in a high-leverage situation against the heart of an opposing lineup is something else entirely. He has earned that trust by doing what eluded him for much of his career: staying healthy, refining his repertoire, and accepting a role that maximizes his strengths rather than forcing him back into the identity of a traditional starter. The Yankees did not need Blackburn to become the pitcher he was projected to be when the Cubs drafted him in the first round. They needed him to become the pitcher he could still be.

At 32, after years of injuries and uncertainty, Blackburn appears to have found the role that fits him best. The 2022 all-star has gone from reclamation project to reliable weapon. With the Yankees’ bullpen suddenly facing another major test, that transformation could prove invaluable when the games matter most. Blackburn is suddenly thrust deeper into the circle of trust.