ESNY’s New York Yankees Bomber Buzz, we recap the winners and losers of this year’s Spring Training competition.
The New York Yankees closed the book on the Grapefruit League following Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the Yankees had one more thing to do before heading to Atlanta.All Spring we’ve watched multiple competitions come into fruition, and for the most part, the Yankees ended the mystery behind who would end up on the Opening Day roster.
After the Yankees organization trolled their fans by hinting Aaron Hicks would be the starting right fielder, they officially announced Aaron Judge won the right field competition. Honestly, Judge in right field was a no-brainer, especially since there was an 80 point difference between Judge and Hicks’ batting average entering play on Thursday.
Girardi on Judge: "he's our right fielder"
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) March 30, 2017
The starting rotation competition hasn’t been completely settled yet, but the Yankees have announced their fourth starter in the rotation. After having a spring where his pitches lacked command, Luis Severino bested Bryan Mitchell, Adam Warren, Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Jordan Montgomery for one of the two spots.
Cessa was already sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week, and Montgomery will follow him. However, Green will head to Double-A Trenton to begin the season.
Before you say the Yankees have gone crazy, they have a method to their madness; Green and Montgomery will continue battling for the fifth starter competition in the minors. Both pitchers will start on April 6th and April 11th for their respective teams, and the Yankees will make a decision on the fifth starter competition by April 16th.
Chad Green will go to Double-A so he can start 4/6 and 4/11. Jordan Montgomery will start the same days at Triple-A.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 30, 2017
Ronald Torreyes will be the starting shortstop for the Yankees in the absence of Didi Gregorius, but many wondered who was going to be the backup utility infielder. After much speculation, Pete Kozma will head north with the team while Rob Refsnyder will start the season in Scranton.
Kozma will be the backup infielder. #Yankees
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) March 30, 2017
Finally, the Yankees announced the eight relievers that will head north with the team. Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Tyler Clippard, Jonathan Holder, Tommy Layne, Adam Warren, Bryan Mitchell and Chasen Shreve all made the Opening Day roster.
The only glaring omission from the pen was Ben Heller, who posted a 0.69 ERA in 11 innings. So what was the reason the Yankees decided to go with Shreve over Heller?
Ben Heller made a strong bid for the roster, Girardi said. Needs to work on consistency, but some of his pitches are "pretty unhittable."
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 30, 2017
Shreve–or Holder–had better consistency than Heller? Okay, then.
The Yankees will christen the new home for the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition game tonight. Michael Pineda, the official number three starter, will start for the Yankees, and Bartolo Colon will start for the Braves.
First pitch will come your way at 7:35 p.m. ET on the YES Network from SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Georgia.