New York Yankees Should Use Domingo German For Spot Start
Feb 14, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German (76) works out as pitchers and catchers report for spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

With all the hype surrounding who will make a spot start for the New York Yankees this Sunday, one prospect is an under-the-radar option.

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced Friday that they will skip over struggling ace Masahiro Tanaka‘s scheduled start on Sunday in order to give him some extra rest. Now, who will make that start comes into question.

The options include a spot start for Chad Green, a call-up for Bryan Mitchell or the far-fetched promotion of red-hot prospect Chance Adams.



All are practical options. but none are ideal. Green’s season-high pitch total is 48 so Girardi would have to fry a lot of his bullpen — not ideal for a team without an off day until June 19. Mitchell has struggled in every facet of the game and Adams, despite posting a 10.6 strikeout rate through five starts in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, isn’t on the 40-man roster.

There’s no need to flip around the 40-man for a spot start. And while Girardi hasn’t eliminated that chance, it seems as though Adams’ debut will not come on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. One prospect, however, isn’t getting enough love as an option from Scranton and that’s right-hander Domingo German.

After posting a 3.00 ERA with 38 strikeouts over five starts for Double-A Trenton, German was promoted to the Electric City on May 18 where he has impressed against an improved competition.

In four starts, the 24-year-old has held opponents to a .220/.284/.360 slash line while striking out 27 batters over 26.1 innings of work. One of those starts included an absolute masterpiece against the Columbus Clippers where he fanned 10 batters in seven shutout innings.

He may be unranked on MLB Pipeline’s Top-30 list, but the native of San Pedro de Macoris is on the 40-man roster and his promotion would cost as much as it would a call-up for Mitchell while keeping Green available for long relief duty. All in all, the bullpen remains well-rested for what will be an always-tough West Coast swing and the Yankees’ brass would get an idea of what this youngster could do at the Major League level — which is what 2017 is all about.

In terms of German’s arsenal and future outlook, the kid has all the tools to perhaps become a back-end of the rotation starter in the Majors one day.

Many scouts doubted that following Tommy John surgery in 2014, but 2016 and 2017 have seen the two best WHIPs of his career — aside from 2013. His fastball still sits in the low-to-mid 90s and has worked on a curveball to compliment his rapidly improving changeup.



I wholeheartedly believe that Green will end up getting the spot start, but when talking about which prospect the Yankees could turn to, why not give this kid a look?