Nathan Eovaldi: A Yankees Tenure That Was Brief But Memorable!
When we think about the New York Yankees' rich history, countless pitchers come to mind. Many spent just a handful of seasons with the iconic pinstripes, some were legends who ended their careers in the Bronx, and others found their true greatness elsewhere after a stint with the Bombers. But for many devoted Yankees fans, especially those who followed the team in the mid-2010s, one name often stands out: Nathan Eovaldi.
Even though his time wearing the Yankees uniform was relatively short, and he achieved some of his best career numbers after leaving New York, "Nasty Nate" is forever linked to that unique transitional period in Yankees baseball. This was the era that bridged the gap between one legendary player's retirement and the rise of another superstar.
Nathan Edward Eovaldi
Born: February 13, 1990, in Houston, TX
Yankees Tenure: 2015-16
From Alvin High to the Big Leagues
Hailing from the Houston area, Eovaldi first turned heads as a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from Alvin High School. This is the very same school that produced Nolan Ryan, arguably the most famous hard-throwing righty in MLB history! It's quite a distinction that Eovaldi and Ryan are the only two graduates of Alvin High to ever reach the major leagues.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Eovaldi in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, choosing to bypass a college commitment to Texas A&M. He was promoted through the minor leagues at an impressive pace for his age, making his major league debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 6, 2011, at the young age of 21. In that debut, he pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, with two walks and a solid seven strikeouts. He even earned the win! As a special bonus, he managed to single off Joe Saunders in his very first at-bat and scored a run – all while the legendary Vin Scully was on the call. Talk about a memorable debut!
Eovaldi made 10 appearances in his rookie season, starting six of them. He then spent the early months of 2012 at Double-A Chattanooga before rejoining the majors. However, his time with the Dodgers was short-lived. At the trade deadline, LA made a significant move, acquiring three-time All-Star Hanley Ramirez and lefty specialist Randy Choate. In return, Eovaldi, along with fellow pitcher Scott McGough, was sent to the Miami Marlins.
Finding His Stride in Miami, Then Heading North
After getting his feet wet in Miami with a decent second half of the season, Eovaldi faced a setback with shoulder inflammation that sidelined him at the start of 2013. But at just 23 years old, he truly hit his stride upon returning to health. He posted a 3.39 ERA and a 3.59 FIP across 18 starts. He then had his most durable season to date in 2014, starting 33 games and logging 199.2 innings. It's worth noting, though, that he also led the National League in hits allowed with 223 during that year.
It was after the 2014 season that Eovaldi's career took a significant turn, leading him to the Bronx. Recognizing his potential and hoping to add another promising young starter to complement Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda at the top of the rotation, the Yankees traded Martín Prado and David Phelps to Miami for Eovaldi, Garrett Jones, and prospect Domingo Germán. Eovaldi's Yankees debut was in the first game of his tenure against the Boston Red Sox, a wild 19-inning marathon that Boston ultimately won 6-5.
A Promising Start in Pinstripes
In his first season as a Yankee, Eovaldi made 27 starts and finished with the highest winning percentage in all of MLB at .823. His record of 14-3, a 4.20 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in 154.1 innings made for a very strong start to his Yankees career. His absolute finest day as a Yankee arguably came on August 24th, when he unleashed fastballs reaching 100 mph and shut out the Houston Astros for eight innings in a nail-biting 1-0 victory.
The Injury Bug Bites
Unfortunately, elbow inflammation forced him to the sidelines from September 6th onwards. This absence was felt keenly as the Yankees ultimately lost the AL East lead to Toronto. Their postseason journey ended quickly with a shutout loss in the Wild Card Game to Houston.
2015 could have been the springboard for a stellar career in pinstripes for Eovaldi, but that nagging elbow issue proved to be a foreshadowing of what was to come. He was inconsistent and often frustrating to watch during the first half of 2016 for an unimpressive Yankees team. He finished that half with an unsightly 5.18 ERA and was even moved to the bullpen. Eovaldi briefly returned to the rotation starting July 19th. However, he left his start at Fenway Park on August 10th with elbow discomfort, which ultimately led to Tommy John surgery.
A New Chapter: Boston and Beyond
Eovaldi's season was over, and soon after, so was his Yankees career. With the news that he was expected to miss the entire 2017 season due to the surgery, which would have placed him in free agency at the end of that year, the Yankees made the decision 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 following more injury news, pitching in only 10 games. But with the Sox, he pitched exceptionally well down the stretch and was instrumental in their World Series victory over the Dodgers in five games. That October was a true turning point for his career narrative. He posted an incredible 1.61 ERA in 22.1 innings of postseason play. He even got a measure of revenge against the Yankees, delivering seven sterling innings in his playoff debut in ALDS Game 3 in the Bronx. Boston eliminated New York the next day, and Eovaldi continued his strong pitching by beating the Astros in ALCS Game 3. However, the Game 3 that truly captured everyone's attention was an 18-inning Fall Classic marathon in Los Angeles. Despite the loss, Eovaldi earned immense respect for his gutsy six innings of relief on just one day's rest.
Eovaldi re-signed with the Red Sox and spent another four full seasons in Boston, posting a 4.15 ERA and 111 ERA+ in 407.2 innings. He recorded 420 strikeouts during that time. In 2021, he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting and 15th in AL MVP voting, earning his first All-Star selection. And, he managed to get the better of the Yankees once more in postseason play, outpitching Gerrit Cole in the 2021 AL Wild Card Game at Fenway Park.
Aging Like Fine Wine with the Rangers
After his tenure in Boston, Eovaldi became a free agent and joined the Texas Rangers in 2023. He has since had the three best statistical years of his career, performing at a high level from ages 33-35. His ERA in these three seasons stands at an impressive 3.14 with an ERA+ of 125 and 427 strikeouts in 444.2 innings. Eovaldi was a standout performer again in October, playing a key role in leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series title in 2023. He secured at least one win in every series for them, including beating the Astros twice, on their historic run.
Eovaldi's 14-year career has undoubtedly been marked by injuries and frequent team changes. Yet, it's hard to deny how well he and his pitching have aged. His fastball velocity and shape improved after leaving the Bronx, and his secondary pitches also saw a boost, including a cutter that he only started developing shortly before his 2016 surgery. Could he have achieved even greater success with a more robust Yankees pitching infrastructure? We'll never know for sure. As a two-time champion and a significant contributor to those World Series teams, Eovaldi may have only spent two seasons in New York out of his soon-to-be 15-year career, but those years certainly set him on a path toward greater achievements.
What do you think? Could the Yankees have done more to keep Eovaldi or develop him further? Let us know in the comments below!
