The Next Line of September Call Up Reinforcements

The New York Yankees announced their first wave of September call ups and reinforcements for the big league club yesterday before their game with the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees brought up Robert Refsnyder, Jose Pirela, Dustin Ackley, Austin Romine, Caleb Cotham, Rico Noel, Jamez Pazos and Andrew Bailey and the team may not be done there. Taking a quick glance at the organization, the Yankees big league club needs and the 40 man roster we may be seeing a backup wave of reinforcements on the way to the Bronx real soon.

Nick Goody and Nick Rumbelow are coming up to the Major Leagues which should come as no surprise to anyone reading this. Both players were up last week and optioned meaning despite the fact that rosters have expanded across Major League Baseball they both still have to wait for the ten-day rule to expire. When those ten days are up expect both to be up in the Bronx and in the Yankees bullpen.

Chris Capuano was designated for assignment for a fourth time this season just last week and for a fourth time decided to go back to Scranton/Wilkes Barre with the RailRiders. Brian Cashman stated he wanted to see Capuano get on a bit of a starter’s schedule with the RailRiders before coming back up but if the Yankees need an arm, a spot starter or some length you would have to believe Capuano would don the pinstripes a fifth time in 2015.

Tyler Austin has, albeit very limited, experience playing first base in his minor league career which could be worth its weight in gold right now for the Yankees. With Mark Teixeira still battling his bone bruise in his shin and Greg Bird as the only true first base option the team may look to Austin as a right-handed option sometime in September. Austin hasn’t done much to warrant a call up to the Major Leagues, especially after being demoted back down to Double-A with the Trenton Thunder, but his first base experience, right-handed bat and 40 man roster spot may get him the call up anyway. This is all contingent on him actually clearing waivers after being designated for assignment and coming back but weirder things have happened. 

Slade Heathcott was finally a healthy player already on the 40 man roster until the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders announced that Heathcott was battling a quad injury. If he’s healthy before the end up September I expect him to be up but the Yankees may be cautious and shut him down for the season just to be sure. Heathcott may or may not come up, stay tuned.