In this edition of ESNY’s New York Yankees prospect profile, we take a look at right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen.
With their pick in round 16 of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, the Cleveland Indians selected right-handed pitcher J.P. Feyereisen out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.Feyereisen was outstanding in his high school career, being named to several All-State and All-Conference teams, but still went undrafted which left him attending college for three years before being selected by the Indians.
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The right-hander stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 215 lbs. His fastball usually sits between 94-96 mph but has even topped out at 100 this past season.
The 24-year old also throws a slider and a changeup, but rarely uses the change due to its ineffectiveness thus far. Feyereisen main tool he needs to work on in order to reach the big leagues is improving his secondary pitches.
The right-hander spent the 2014 season with the Indians Low-A affiliate where he did not surrender a single run in 17 innings pitched, leaving him in a good position heading into the following season.
Feyereisen’s first full season in the minor leagues came in 2015, where he split time between two of the Indians’ Single-A affiliates. In 46 relief appearances, the right-hander sported a 2.08 ERA with a 10.6 K/9.
Following his successful 2015 campaign, Feyereisen was promoted to Double-A to begin the 2016 season. In 33 games with the Akron RubberDucks, the right-hander had a 2.68 ERA with a 12.5 K/9.
On July 31, everything would change for Feyereisen. He was traded to the New York Yankees along with Clint Frazier apart of a package that sent Andrew Miller to Cleveland and helped them make a World Series appearance.
Once arriving in New York, the 24-year-old was assigned to the Yankees Double-A affiliate Trenton Thunder. In nine appearances with Trenton, Feyereisen went 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
After the conclusion of the 2016 season, the right-hander was assigned to the Arizona Fall League, mainly to improve his secondary pitches which are currently not where they should be.
In 14 innings pitched with the Scottsdale Scorpions, Feyereisen went 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA with 18 strikeouts and a 1.57 WHIP. This impressive showing from the right-hander earned him an invite to the Yankees 2017 spring training camp.
Looking forward to 2017 for Feyereisen, he will most likely be assigned to the Yankees Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders to begin the season.
However, a major league debut could happen for the Wisconsin-native as soon as this summer if he performs well at the Triple-A level. He could prove to be a key piece to the Yankee bullpen heading into the ending months of the season.