The New York Yankees were in a bit of a predicament heading
into the weekend which ultimately forced the hand of the organization into
calling up the subject of our Meet a Prospect series here this afternoon. The
Yankees had originally slated JA Happ to make his Yankees debut against the
Boston Red Sox this afternoon, but hand, foot and mouth disease has forced the
lefty onto the disabled list and Chance Adams to the Major Leagues to take his
place in the rotation. In just a few hours one of the top Yankees prospects,
and one that I have talked up for many, many years now, will make his MLB debut
against arguably the best team in Major League Baseball here in 2018. No
pressure, kid. This is Meet a Prospect: The Chance Adams Edition.
Chance Adams was born on August 10, 1994 and attended High
School at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Adams spent two years
playing college baseball at Yavapai College before transferring to Dallas
Baptist University for his junior season. While at Dallas Baptist the
right-hander caught the attention and the eye of the New York Yankees who came
calling in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB First Year Players Draft drafting
him and almost immediately signing him to his first professional contract. Adams
was drafted as a relief pitcher and pitched out of the bullpen for the Staten Island
Yankees, the Charleston Riverdogs and the Tampa Yankees before his 2015 season
ended.
Adams was converted to a starting pitcher before the 2016
season and spent time starting with the Tampa Yankees (5-0 record with a 2.65
ERA in 12 games) and the Trenton Thunder (8-1 record with a 2.07 ERA). Adams
was back as a starter for the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2017, but the
right-hander was not long for the affiliate as the Yankees quickly and
aggressively promoted Adams to Triple-A during the 2017 season. Adams was
lights out in Double-A but he did struggle some at the Triple-A level finishing
the season with a combined 15-5 record and a 2.45 ERA in 150.1 innings pitched
combined.
Adams was back in Triple-A for the 2018 season but unfortunately
many of the struggles that found him in Scranton in 2017 followed the
right-hander into the 2018 season. At the time of his call-up to the Major
Leagues the Yankees young right-hander was pitching to a 3-5 record with a 4.50
ERA, 102 strikeouts, 48 walks and a 1.316 WHIP in 98 innings pitched.
The 2018 numbers and the Triple-A numbers in general were
ugly, but much like the postseason… it is a new season now and none of those
numbers count. Make today’s start count, because we are counting on you.
Welcome to the Majors, Chance. Go Yankees!!