The Yankees announced a pair of roster moves on Monday afternoon, claiming outfielder Duke Ellis off waivers from the Seattle Mariners while transferring RHP Ian Hamilton to the 60-day IL.
Ellis, 26, has had a whirlwind of a season. Starting the year in the Chicago White Sox organization, Ellis was claimed off waivers by the Mets on June 21 and assigned to Double-A Binghamton, but was DFA’d for a second time on June 30. The Mariners claimed Ellis on July 4, and he stuck with their organization until this past Friday, when he was once again DFA’d.
Originally a 20th-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2017, Ellis has just four major league at-bats, which all came as a member of the White Sox earlier this season. But he also stole four bases during his eight games with the Sox, and that’s been his calling card as a player. Over the course of 273 minor league games, Ellis has stolen 134 bases and has been caught just 18 times.
Hamilton, meanwhile, was originally placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 17, with a right lat strain. The right-hander just began a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Saturday, striking out the side in one inning of work, and transferring him to the 60-day IL is largely just a paper move.
Transferring Hamilton to the 60-day IL opens a spot on the 40-man roster for Ellis, and still makes him eligible to return to the Yankees whenever he’s ready, as the 60-day mark (which was Aug. 16) has already passed.
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