Yankees lefty reliever projected to have a massive second-half breakout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Like clockwork, the New York Yankees have come out and played well so far this season. They hold a 57-45 record, just 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.Much of the reason for the team's success this year comes from the dominant pitching staff. The staff has a 3.38 team ERA, which is the best across MLB.The starting staff has done extremely well, but that's not all. The bullpen has also been elite, boasting a 3.06 ERA, which comes second behind the Boston Red Sox's 3.02 bullpen ERA.MORE:Yankees expected to call Blue Jays for All-Star who hit .411 in last year's World Series runYankees lefty reliever projected to have a massive second-half breakoutThe Yankees' closer, David Bednar, has done well to shut the door in the ninth with his 18 saves on the year, but he's not the only one who should get credit in the bullpen. Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, and Brent Headrick have helped give him opportunities to shut the door in the ninth.Headrick has been especially useful this year and is one player that Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly believes could have a massive second-half breakout."Across 50 appearances for the Yankees, Headrick has a minuscule 1.43 ERA, and a 2.29 FIP that doesn't lead you to believe some drastic fall-off is on the way. Headrick actually has reverse splits, with lefties hitting .265 and a .736 OPS against him, but righties batting just .172 with a .486 OPS off the 28-year-old lefty."Headrick came to the Yankees ahead of the 2025 season, being claimed off waivers after his time with the Minnesota Twins came to an end. It's just another example that just because a player didn't work out for one team, it doesn't mean he doesn't have what it takes to play at this level.More MLB news:Orioles quietly snag 3-year MLB catcher off waivers from CardinalsUnderlying stats say this Pirates' righty is about to explodeMLB insider throws cold water on Padres Mason Miller trade rumorsDonald Trump takes unprovoked jab at lowly Mets during Georgia rally: 'They lose all the time'