Yankees recall Jake Bird from Triple-A, place David Bednar on paternity list

Jake Bird was back in the Yankees’ bullpen mix after David Bednar was placed on the paternity list, a move that immediately opened another late-inning lane for a right-handed reliever from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees’ transaction log marked the swap on June 29, 2026, with Bird recalled and Bednar removed from the active roster for the temporary leave. Bird, 30, wears No. 59 and has already been shuttled through the system once this season, having been optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 20 before this latest call-up. He also was recalled on April 22 when the Yankees made another paternity-list move, making this his second return to the majors in 2026.

Bird’s player page listed him at 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA across 17 appearances entering the move, a line that points to a useful but still unsettled bullpen role. Over the next few days, he is the most likely candidate to absorb middle innings and protect the Yankees from overextending their higher-leverage arms while Bednar is away. The timing gives Bird more than just a placeholder assignment: it is also another test of whether he can stay in the major-league picture beyond a short-term fill-in.

Bednar’s absence matters because he had become part of the Yankees’ bullpen structure after arriving from the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 31, 2025. That deal cost New York three minor leaguers, catchers Rafael Flores and Edgleen Pérez and outfielder Brian Sánchez, and it was made with the expectation that Bednar would bring stability to the back end. Instead, the Yankees have had to keep moving pieces around as roster churn continues to press on the relief corps.

Bird’s return shows how Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is being used to steady the big club. The RailRiders’ bullpen is not just stockpiling depth for its own standings race, it is serving as the Yankees’ immediate reserve supply, with Bird now asked to step in whenever the Bronx needs a fresh arm. For now, the assignment is simple: cover innings, keep the bullpen intact and give the Yankees another right-hander until Bednar returns.