Dunedin, Fla. – Nick Nelson continued his case to get the roster out of spring training, as the fireballing right-hander struck two more batters in the 1-₃ / ings innings on Sunday.
The 25-year-old jumped at a top speed of 98 mph and allowed just five base runners in 6 ¹ / this shutout innings this spring.
Typically a starter during his short league career, Nelson showed 11 reliefs with the Yankees last season and figures to do the same in 2021.
“I could see that maybe his long-term future might be as a starter, but I’m definitely seeing an immediate role, possibly, as a reliever,” Boone said. “As someone who throws multi-innings there and possibly in high-leverage situations.”
Boone compared 25-year-old Jonathan Loisiga, another hard-working Yankees with a lot of liking.
Nelson is still working to make his offspeed pitches more consistent and is confident that his slider and kurtball are improving with his changes.
It’s been almost two weeks since the pacemaker was put in Boone and the manager is still amazed at how he feels compared to the months leading up to the process.
“Awesome,” Boone said. “Much better [and more] Energy. “
Boone stated that he was fatigued due to low heart rate and was sometimes mild, which the pacemaker has addressed.
Left-hander Lucas Luetz pitched another scoring inning on Sunday.
The 33-year-old has opened his eyes to the camp, including his own.
“Spring has been better than I expected,” Lutege said. “You always want to get started [well], But I had no idea it would be good with strikes. I want to roll “
Lutege defeated eight of the first 11 batters he faced before Sunday, but said his command was not fast against Toronto.
“As long as most games [Sunday], “I was able to throw all my pitches for one strike,” Lutege said. “My ball is moving a lot.”
He may have been an arm that is believed to be in the wake of losing Zack Britton by June due to Yankee Elbow surgery.
“I try to talk and worry about my pitch,” Lusge said of the roster situation.
Austin Wells has become the No. 6 prospect of the YBees, per MLB.com, thanks to a large portion of his bat. But the 21-year-old catcher has also spent his first spring training at an organization working for his defense, getting used to the new one-down-down stance taking catches throughout the system.
After taking the Yankees’ first round in June last year, Wells began the transition through a distance program last year, organized by minor league coordinator Aaron Gersenfield. Now that trainer Tanner Swanson is gaining hands-on experience to hold Wales, “the gold standard in terms of commitment to some of the initiatives we’ve taken.”
There are some questions about whether Wales will survive a catch in the long run, or end up in left field or at first base. But he believes in the new catcher stance.
“I like that it helps me stay low in stance, helps me get into better positions to get better positions, which is the main goal,” Wells said.
– Additional reporting by Greg Joyce
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