Yankees Eyeing Reliever Dylan Coleman as Potential Bullpen Boost

29-year-old right-hander aims to revive career after struggles with Royals, Astros, and Orioles

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The New York Yankees are taking a flier on right-handed reliever Dylan Coleman, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee. Coleman, 29, had a strong start to his MLB career with the Royals in 2021-22, but struggled the past two seasons with the Astros and Orioles. After being released by Baltimore last year, Coleman spent time working on his mechanics with a pitching instructor and is now looking to regain the form that made him an effective major league bullpen arm.

Why it matters

The Yankees' bullpen was a weakness last season, ranking just 21st in MLB in value according to FanGraphs. Finding reclamation projects like Coleman who can bolster the relief corps is a key part of the team's strategy to improve their pitching this year and make a deeper playoff run.

The details

Coleman, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, can touch 100 mph with his fastball and had a 2.66 ERA in his first two MLB seasons with the Royals in 2021-22. But he struggled in 2023 and was traded to the Astros, where he failed to find success at the Triple-A level. After being released by the Orioles last May, Coleman spent time working on his mechanics with a pitching instructor, making adjustments to his delivery and adding a new sinker pitch. The Yankees are hoping those changes can help Coleman regain his previous form and provide a boost to their bullpen.

  • Coleman was released by the Orioles in May 2025.
  • Coleman spent a few weeks working with a pitching instructor in Rhode Island after being released.
  • Coleman then spent a couple months training with the instructor over the 2025-26 offseason.

The players

Dylan Coleman

A 29-year-old right-handed relief pitcher who is in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee, looking to revive his MLB career after struggling the past two seasons.

Mason Feole

The owner of a pitching instruction company in Rhode Island who worked with Coleman to help him make mechanical adjustments to his delivery.

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What they’re saying

“When my direction is good, the throw takes care of itself.”

— Dylan Coleman (New York Post)

“I'm in a way better spot than I've been in a while.”

— Dylan Coleman (New York Post)

What’s next

Coleman will look to continue impressing the Yankees' coaching staff during spring training as he aims to earn a spot in the team's bullpen for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Yankees' ability to identify and revive the careers of overlooked relief pitchers has been a key strength in recent years. If Coleman can regain his previous form after working on his mechanics, he could become the latest reclamation project to bolster the team's bullpen and help them return to the playoffs.