Miguel Yajure

Miguel Ángel Yajure

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 215 lb.

• Debut August 31, 2020

• Born May 1, 1998 in Cabimas, Zulia Venezuela

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Biographical Information

When Miguel Yajure made his major league debut pitching for the New York Yankees on August 31, 2020, he wore uniform number 89. He was the first player to wear that number in a major league game, and it was the final number between 0 and 99 never to have been worn in a game. He was thus the last player to inaugurate a new number. He made three appearances for the Yankees, all in relief, pitching 7 innings with no decisions and an ERA of 1.29.

The Yankees had signed him as an international free agent on March 5, 2015 and he pitched that season for the DSL Yankees 2, going 0-2, 1.42 in 14 starts and 57 innings. In 2016, he moved to the U.S., pitching for the GCL Yankees where he went 1-2, 2.87 in 9 games (6 starts). After missing all of 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery, he returned in 2018 to pitch for the Charleston RiverDogs in the South Atlantic League, where he went 4-3, 3.90 in 14 starts. He was back pitching like a top prospect in 2019, however, splitting the season between the Class A Tampa Tarpons and AA Trenton Thunder, and going a combined 9-6, 2.14 in 24 games. He struck out 133 batters in 138 2/3 innings. His ERA was the best among all minor league pitchers with 125 or more innings, and his 122 strikeouts tied him for second in the Florida State League, where he was a postseason All-Star. Baseball America rated him as having the best control in the Yankees' system, and he was added to the major league team's 40-man roster after the season. However, the coronavirus pandemic wrecked plans for the 2020 season, and when play was finally able to resume, he spent most of the season at the team's alternate training site, before his call-up in late August.

On January 24, 2021, he was the only one with major league experience of the four prospects traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire former ace Jameson Taillon. Joining Miguel were Roansy Contreras, Maikol Escotto and Canaan Smith.

Related Sites

• Miguel Yajure on mlb.com