Who can jump?
Even with Zac Britton for a while, the Yankees fielded one of baseball’s deepest bullpens. Yet in this unique season (because it follows a unique season), they will definitely require more people to bloom and get some significant exclusions.
The most intriguing guy on the internal list of candidates may be the man who got “Young Mariano Rivera” who dropped in on him during the night of his major league debut.
“As long as I’m putting in the work and getting the results I want, and as long as God gives me the opportunity to do that, I can see how I can be part of a group of people that you Mentioned, “Jonathan Loaisiga, through an interpreter, said Wednesday, referring to Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, Darren O’Day and Justin Wilson as well as Britton.
“They have a lot of experience in the big leagues, and have had a lot of success. The way I see it, if I keep doing my work and I keep getting good results, then I can be a part of that group. “
The honor should be given to Louis Cassa, who has deliberately worked his way up the ladder of Aaron Boone, and youngsters such as Nick Nelson and Albert Abreu remain prospects as Michael King (if he does not visit the alternative site and Long stains throws to prepare for starting opportunities) and non-roster giants such as Kyle Barraclaw and Lucas Luetge. Opportunities will not be rare as all teams attempt to maneuver their pitching supplies through a 162-game season after a 60-game season.
Lausiga stands out due to his swing-and-miss stuff (fastball, curbball and changeup), which has allowed him to post 10.4 strikes in nine innings in 36 major-league games (79 ings total). After his major-league debut in 2018, Loziga received the original “Young Riviera” label from Rage manager Kevin Cash. And because that arsenal – he had also been working for some time on a slider, which he hopes to eventually start – enables him to post multiple innings in a single outing.
“I think that with Lo, this year has additional significance, with the arrival of shorter seasons, beginning with what we want to make sure we’re protecting,” Boone said. He said, ‘The length at which he can give you in a’ pen ‘to keep pace with people on a certain day, where we don’t have the entire pitch count or whatever. This role becomes really important. “
In four Grapefruit League games, eight innings in total, the 26-year-old Losiga did not allow one run, one of seven and two (both against the Tigers on Tuesday, in relief of Gerrit Cole), allowing only two hits.
“With Lo, I just want to make sure, because his stuff is so good, that he’s always on the attack,” Boone said. “And I think the one thing that’s really good for him, and it’s always been a reliable pitch for him, but his change, he’s making a lot of use of it. You saw it (Tuesday). He’s right-handed. And uses both with the left hand. This is the secondary pitch that he has the most confidence in and can really lean on and that is a really good pitch for this spring to go with his fastball. “
Durability is Lausiga’s biggest obstacle. After hand troubles, the Yankees signed him as a minor-league free agent in February 2016, culminating in Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the first two seasons. He then spent time on the injured list in both 2019, when his right shoulder malfunctioned and he eventually got a 60-day list and a place in 2020.
“Thank God, I think I’m feeling great at camp this year,” Loziga said. “I have realized that physically, I am at 100 percent.”
The Yankees would probably take 100 percent for them, say, 70 percent of their schedule. This is going to be a slogan. How much Loaisiga helps them navigate can determine a lot.
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