NEW YORK — Every now and then, a story emerges from the Yankees’ farm system that feels written by fate — and this winter, it’s Harrison Cohen’s turn. The 25-year-old right-handed reliever, once a lifelong fan from Syosset, New York, is now knocking on the doors of Yankee Stadium after a stunning breakout campaign in 2025 that has scouts and fans alike buzzing.
After beginning the year with the Somerset Patriots (Double-A), Cohen quickly earned a call-up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he became nearly unhittable. In 29 outings, he recorded a 1.57 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 28.2 innings, and held opponents to an ice-cold .146 batting average — numbers that would make even veteran relievers envious.
“His fastball command, his poise, his mound presence — it’s everything the Yankees bullpen could use right now,” said one team insider familiar with player development. “He’s got that New York energy — fearless, competitive, and born for the spotlight.”
Cohen’s journey hasn’t been the typical rise of a blue-chip prospect. Undrafted out of college, he fought his way through independent leagues and minor league contracts, driven by a lifelong dream to pitch in pinstripes. His relentless work ethic, combined with a late-blooming spike in velocity — topping out at 98 mph — has transformed him into one of the organization’s most intriguing bullpen arms heading into Spring Training 2026.
For Cohen, though, it’s never just been about stats. “I grew up watching games from the bleachers with my dad,” he said in a postgame interview this September. “Every time I walk onto the mound, I think about those nights. I’m not just pitching for myself — I’m pitching for every kid who dreamed of being here.”
With the Yankees bullpen facing offseason uncertainty and potential roster changes looming, Cohen’s timing couldn’t be better. Insiders suggest that manager Aaron Boone and the front office are already viewing him as a serious candidate for a middle-relief role early next season.
And while nothing is official yet, the whispers around the organization are growing louder: Harrison Cohen’s Bronx dream may soon become reality.
From Syosset’s backyard fields to the bright lights of Yankee Stadium — it’s not just another rise through the system. It’s the kind of story that keeps the spirit of baseball alive in the Bronx: homegrown, hungry, and heartbreakingly human.
Because sometimes, the next great Yankee doesn’t arrive with fanfare — he earns it, one pitch at a time.
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