Ryan Weathers was axed in a Grapefruit League loss today. The new Yankees southpaw allowed seven runs on eight hits in three innings. He has 16 earned runs over 12 1/3 frames in four starts this spring.
The struggles didn’t jeopardize Weathers’ hold on the exchange spot. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that the rest will open the season in the first five (reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Boone noted that he focuses more on the raw materials of a pitcher than the results of an exhibition game.
Although Weathers was beaten, he showed a promising arsenal. His fastball averages over 98 mph, a mark higher than his 97 mph heater during last year’s regular season with Miami. Weathers had 17 strikeouts while missing at-bats over 14% of his at-bats. It’s certainly a bad ERA, but the speed and strikeouts are encouraging.
Fried Max, Cam Schlittler, Is Warren, Luis Gil and Weather will include a change in the season opener. Gerrit Cole again Carlos Rodón opens each one in the list of casualties. Cole threw an inning in his first Spring Training appearance on Wednesday. Rodón hasn’t pitched this spring but could be ready for regular season action by the end of April.
Weathers and Gil each have a minor league option remaining. They will have a few starts to try to make sure they stick around when Rodón and/or Cole are healthy. It would be crowded if everyone was available, but the Yankees don’t have much experienced depth in the short term. Osvaldo Bido he has no choice and could find himself back on waivers next week. Swingmen Ryan Yarbrough again Paul Blackburn and hope Elmer Rodríguez (who has yet to pitch in the majors) are healthy alternatives to the 40-man roster rotation.
Among the team’s undrafted invitees, no one has turned more heads this spring than fair Carlos Lagrange. The 22-year-old reliever pitched 13 2/3 innings of one-run ball while recording 13 strikeouts. He used to pump triple-digit fastballs by clearing second base. There was speculation that Lagrange might be in the Opening Day conversation, but the Yankees reassigned him to minor league camp this afternoon.
Boone admitted that Lagrange looks a lot closer to MLB readiness than he expected in the spring. “I don’t know if we will ever break [camp] with him, but I would say that at least we’ve talked about it,” he told Greg Joyce of the New York Post.
Lagrange’s arsenal will likely play in the big league bullpen. Things could be very high, so the Yankees will continue to develop him as a starter in the minors to work on his command. Lagrange has been around the place this spring, issuing just four walks with one hit batter. That is obviously a small task. His strike rate has been a big question for the youngsters. Lagrange walked over 12% of opponents in his 120 innings between High-A and Double-A last year. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid going into the Rule 5 draft next season, and it looks like he will make his first appearance this year.
