The New York Yankees‘ bullpen, while currently ranking 5th in MLB with a commendable 3.39 ERA, has faced significant challenges and changes over the recent weeks.
Juan Soto has been UNREAL lately
Shuffling in the Yankees’ Bullpen
Recently, the Yankees made a notable change by designating 28-year-old left-hander Victor Gonzalez for assignment. Despite efforts by manager Aaron Boone to integrate him effectively into the bullpen, Gonzalez struggled to find consistent form, departing with a 3.86 ERA over 23.1 innings. His performance metrics, including 4.24 strikeouts per nine and a high 5.01 walks per nine, were underwhelming. However, he maintained a solid 55.1% ground ball rate, which is one of the best statistics within the team.
MLB: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
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Despite these figures, Gonzalez’s expected stats suggested he outperformed his actual outcomes, hinting at some luck during his tenure. Following his release, he was quickly claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles, an AL East rival, where he might find a fresh start in a bullpen that boasts a 3.48 ERA, ranking 9th in baseball.
Emerging Talent: Yoendrys Gomez Steps Up
In response to Gonzalez’s departure, the Yankees promoted Phil Bickford and called up homegrown talent Yoendrys Gomez. At just 24 years old, Gomez has shown promise, holding a 3.13 ERA at the Triple-A level across 46 innings. Since joining the major league squad, he has impressed with 5.2 innings of work, maintaining a perfect 0.00 ERA and successfully stranding all baserunners.
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Gomez brings a diverse pitching arsenal, featuring a four-seam fastball, sweeper, slider, curveball, and changeup. His variety of pitches equips the Yankees with strategic flexibility, particularly against teams vulnerable to specific types of pitches.
Pitching coach Matt Blake is tasked with continuously adapting the bullpen strategy to maximize effectiveness. As the team navigates through these adjustments, they are also anticipating the return of key pitchers from injuries. Notably, Scott Effross, a significant trade acquisition from 2022, has started a rehab assignment and is expected to rejoin the team in the coming weeks, potentially boosting the bullpen’s capabilities significantly.