Saturday, July 9, 2016

Reliever Prospects Set to Step Up for Yankees

Description: Red Sox vs. Yankees: 8/5/2015 by apardavila, on Flickr

The New York Yankees might have the second most expensive bullpen in the MLB but their relief pitchers have been singled out for the franchise's hugely disappointing 2016 campaign. In spite of the quality currently in the Yankees bullpen, they currently find themselves middle of the pack in terms of their ERA, with an FIP bettered by all but two other teams in the league.


With relievers Chasen Shreve and Kirby Yates both failing to impress so far this season and with a number of other pitchers taking up space in the medical department, it may be that the franchise look at some prospects already on their books.

Here are three players that could potentially earn surprise call-ups this year as the Yankees look to salvage their 2016 campaign. 

Dietrich Enns: A pitcher who leans very much towards precision over power, Dietrich Enns may well earn himself a call-up based on on the alternate options he brings to the rotation. Drafted in 2012, the left-hander was promoted into the starting line-up in 2013 only to be forced under the knife with Tommy John surgery the following year. Impressive 2015 and 2016 campaigns in Double-A Trenton have now breathed fresh life into Enns' Yankees' career, and a sensational April in which he allowed zero runs, the 25-year-old was named Player of the Month, earning a place as an Eastern League All Star before making the step up to Scranton. 

Matt Wotherspoon: For a Yankees team currently as long as 40/1 with the latest Bet365 MLB odds, it might seem as though placing their hopes on a 20th round pick from the 2014 draft, but Matt Wotherspoon may well surprise a few people this year. Having earned his place on the rotation last season, the pitcher recorded a very respectable 3.84 ERA during his 81 innings of action after moving to Trenton and skipping High-A ball. Currently playing in the Triple-A, where he boasts an eye-catching 1.65 ERA, Wotherspoon is knocking on the door of earning a recall to the Yankees rotation if the team's pitching continues to struggle. There might be a number of more higher profile pitchers ahead of him in the pecking order, but Wotherspoon's impressive stats this season may well be enough to earn him a call-up. 

Giovanny Gallegos: Well, it's been quite a journey for Gallegos. After being snapped up as an international signing from Mexico before the 2012 season, the youngster failed to adapt to life in the big leagues, eventually finding himself farmed out. Last year saw Gallegos rack up an excellent 1.35 ERA and 2.13 FIP. And 2016 has been a similar story for the Mexican in the upper minors, currently boasting a very nice 1.41 ERA. With a real talent for striking out batters, as well as a fast ball climbing into the mid-90's, there is a possibility the Yankees may feel as though it is worth handing the 24-year-old the chance to prove whether or not he can really succeed in the MLB. 

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)