The Unforgettable Pitcher Who Briefly Wore Pinstripes: Nathan Eovaldi's Journey!
When we reminisce about the New York Yankees' rich pitching history, it's easy to recall many who graced the mound for just a season or two. Some were legends who ended their careers in the Bronx, while others were budding stars who went on to achieve greatness elsewhere. But for many devoted Yankees fans, particularly those who followed the team through the mid-2010s, one name stands out from that transitional era: Nathan Eovaldi.
Even though his time in the iconic Yankees uniform was relatively brief, and his most dominant years came after his New York stint, "Nasty Nate" is indelibly linked to that fascinating period. This was the time after one era's end and before another's true beginning, a unique chapter in Yankees lore.
Nathan Edward Eovaldi
* Born: February 13, 1990, in Houston, TX
* Yankees Tenure: 2015-2016
Growing up in the Houston area, Eovaldi first turned heads as a powerful right-handed pitcher from Alvin High School. Fun fact: this is the same alma mater as Nolan Ryan, arguably baseball's most legendary hard-throwing righty! In fact, Eovaldi and Ryan are the only two graduates from Alvin High to ever make it to Major League Baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Eovaldi in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, a decision that meant he bypassed a college commitment to Texas A&M. He was promoted through the minor leagues at an impressive pace for his age. Eovaldi made his highly anticipated big-league debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 6, 2011, at just 21 years old. In that game, he pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, with two walks and a strong seven strikeouts. He even secured the win! As an extra treat, he hit a single off Joe Saunders in his very first MLB at-bat and went on to score a run, all while the legendary Vin Scully was calling the game – talk about a memorable debut!
Eovaldi made 10 appearances that rookie season, starting six of them. He then spent the initial months of 2012 at Double-A Chattanooga before rejoining the major league club. However, his time with the Dodgers was drawing to a close. In a significant Trade Deadline move, Los Angeles acquired three-time All-Star Hanley Ramirez and lefty specialist Randy Choate. As part of that deal, Eovaldi, along with fellow pitcher Scott McGough, was sent to the Miami Marlins.
After a somewhat inconsistent second half with Miami, Eovaldi faced a setback: shoulder inflammation sidelined him at the start of 2013. But at the young age of 23, he made a remarkable comeback once healthy, posting a 3.39 ERA and a 3.59 FIP across 18 starts. He then had his most durable season to date in 2014, starting a remarkable 33 games and logging 199.2 innings. On the flip side, he did lead the National League in hits allowed that year, with 223.
It was after the 2014 season that Eovaldi's career took a significant turn, leading him north to the Bronx. Recognizing his potential and hoping to bolster their rotation with another promising young arm to complement Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda, the Yankees traded Martín Prado and David Phelps to Miami. In return, they acquired Eovaldi, along with Garrett Jones and a prospect named Domingo Germán. Eovaldi's Yankees debut was memorable, pitching in the first game of his tenure against the rival Boston Red Sox. It turned out to be a wild 19-inning marathon that Boston ultimately won 6-5.
In his inaugural season as a Yankee, Eovaldi made 27 starts and finished with the highest winning percentage in all of MLB at .823. His impressive 14-3 record, coupled with a 4.20 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 154.1 innings, marked a very strong start to his Yankees career. One of his most dominant performances came on August 24th, when he unleashed fastballs reaching 100 mph against the Houston Astros, pitching eight scoreless innings in a nail-biting 1-0 victory. (Apologies to reporter Nate, who might have wished for a few more innings of that brilliance!)
However, elbow inflammation forced him to the injured list starting September 6th, and the Yankees ultimately lost the AL East lead to Toronto. Their season ended abruptly in the Wild Card Game, where they were shut out by Houston.
But here's where it gets controversial... While 2015 could have been the springboard for a stellar career in pinstripes, that nagging elbow issue proved to be a significant omen. In the first half of 2016, Eovaldi was inconsistent and often frustrating for a struggling Yankees team. He finished that half with a 5.18 ERA and was even demoted to the bullpen. Though he briefly returned to the rotation on July 19th, his start at Fenway Park on August 10th was cut short by elbow discomfort, leading to Tommy John surgery.
Eovaldi's season was over, and soon after, his time with the Yankees concluded. Given that he was expected to miss the entire 2017 season due to the surgery, which would have made him a free agent at the end of that year, the Yankees opted to release him rather than negotiate a rehab-focused extension. This allowed Eovaldi to continue his career elsewhere.
In 2018, Eovaldi joined the Tampa Bay Rays and was later traded to the Boston Red Sox. Despite pitching in only 10 games initially due to more injury concerns, he made a significant impact down the stretch, helping the Red Sox clinch a World Series title in five games against the Dodgers. That October was a turning point for his career narrative. He posted an incredible 1.61 ERA over 22.1 innings in the postseason. He even exacted a bit of revenge against the Yankees, delivering seven sterling innings in his playoff debut, ALDS Game 3 in the Bronx. Boston eliminated New York the following day, and Eovaldi continued his strong pitching, beating the Astros in ALCS Game 3. However, the Game 3 that truly etched his name in baseball history was an epic 18-inning World Series marathon in Los Angeles. Despite the loss, Eovaldi earned immense respect with six gutsy innings of relief on just one day's rest – a true display of grit!
Eovaldi re-signed with the Red Sox and spent another four full seasons in Boston, accumulating a 4.15 ERA and a 111 ERA+ over 407.2 innings. He struck out 420 batters during this period. In 2021, he was recognized as a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award (finishing fourth) and was also a candidate for the AL MVP (finishing 15th), earning his first All-Star selection. And, in a fitting twist, he once again outpitched Gerrit Cole in the 2021 AL Wild Card Game at Fenway Park, delivering another memorable performance against the Yankees.
After his successful tenure in Boston, Eovaldi became a free agent and joined the Texas Rangers in 2023. Remarkably, he has since enjoyed the three best statistical years of his career from ages 33 to 35. His ERA in this recent stretch stands at a stellar 3.14, with a 125 ERA+ and 427 strikeouts over 444.2 innings. Eovaldi was once again a postseason hero, playing a crucial role in leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series championship in 2023. He secured at least one win in every series, including defeating the Astros twice, on their historic run.
Eovaldi's 14-year career has been marked by injuries and frequent team changes, but it's undeniable that both he and his pitching have aged like fine wine. His fastball velocity and shape improved significantly after leaving the Bronx, and his secondary pitches, including a cutter he developed just before his 2016 surgery, also saw a boost. And this is the part most people miss... Could he have achieved even greater success if he had been part of a more robust Yankees pitching development system? We'll never know for sure. Despite only spending two seasons in New York out of his soon-to-be 15-year career, Eovaldi, a two-time champion and key contributor to those World Series teams, was undoubtedly put on a path that led him to even bigger and brighter achievements.
What do you think? Was Eovaldi's brief Yankees tenure a missed opportunity for the team, or a crucial stepping stone for his personal success? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
