Patrick Henry CC's only active MLB representative right now is Bradley Hanner — and his week in the spotlight was equal parts milestone and controversy.
The Yankees recalled the right-hander on September 21 as the corresponding move after placing Clarke Schmidt on the 15-day injured list with right bicep neuritis, retroactive to the same date. For Hanner, a product of Martinsville, Virginia's Patrick Henry CC, it's the kind of call-up that dreams are made of — arriving in New York with October baseball on the horizon.
The reception, however, was less than celebratory in some corners.
The Call-Up That Sparked a Debate
Sports Illustrated wasted no time questioning the Yankees' front office, running a piece arguing the club made a "grave mistake" promoting Hanner over fellow minor leaguer Carlos Lagrange. The concern is straightforward: with the Yankees eyeing a postseason run, roster decisions made in late September carry outsized weight. Critics contend that Lagrange represented the safer, higher-upside option for a bullpen that can't afford soft spots in October.
The Yankees, for their part, made their choice — and Hanner is in the big-league clubhouse because of it.
A Rough First Look
The debut week didn't do Hanner any favors in the court of public opinion. In Thursday's 6-4 Yankees win over Tampa Bay on September 24, Hanner logged 2.0 innings but carries an ERA of 8.59 — a number that will draw scrutiny regardless of the sample size. Two innings in the major leagues is a whisper of a résumé, but it's the only data point evaluators have right now, and it's not a flattering one.
To be fair, late-season call-ups to contending rosters are rarely showcases. Pitchers arrive mid-rhythm, face lineups they've never seen at the highest level, and are asked to contribute without the luxury of an acclimation period. Hanner is navigating all of that in pinstripes, in a pennant race, under a microscope.
What Comes Next
The bigger question isn't what Hanner did in one September outing — it's whether he makes the postseason roster at all. With Schmidt sidelined and the Yankees managing their depth carefully, Hanner has an opening. But the SI criticism signals that internal competition for those final bullpen spots is real, and the Yankees' decision-makers will be watching every outing between now and the roster lock.
For Patrick Henry CC fans, just seeing a Patriot alumni on a World Series contender's active roster in the final week of the regular season is worth marking. Whether Hanner silences the doubters and earns his October spot is the story to watch heading into the final days of the 2026 season.
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