The New York Yankees have made an unexpected roster move, calling up pitching prospect Brendan Beck for his MLB debut in Thursday's series finale against the Texas Rangers. This comes amid tough news for left-hander Ryan Weathers, who told reporters Wednesday that an illness has caused him to lose nine pounds over the past two days, forcing him to miss his scheduled start.

Instead, veteran Paul Blackburn—formerly of the Athletics and New York Mets—will take the mound for the Yankees. After Wednesday's game, the team optioned reliever Yerry De Los Santos back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, opening the door for Beck.

The 27-year-old right-hander, ranked as the Yankees' No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline, had his contract selected from Triple-A on Thursday. Beck, a second-round pick out of Stanford University in 2021, is known as a soft-tossing pitcher with plus command, but his pro career has been marred by injuries. He required Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted and missed the entire 2024 season due to another elbow procedure.

Beck's minor-league start has been rocky—he posted a 5.11 ERA with seven home runs allowed in seven starts—but the Yankees are in need of an innings eater to preserve their bullpen. He could piggyback Blackburn in today's game, providing much-needed length.

This debut is a testament to the Yankees' depth and willingness to turn to their farm system when adversity strikes. For fans, it's a chance to see a promising arm get his first taste of the big leagues, even if the circumstances are less than ideal.