Righty relief pitcher Dellin Betances is making significant progress towards a return to the New York Yankees.
Help is on the way. The New York Yankees didn’t make any major additions to the pitching staff at the trade deadline, but they might be getting some arms back off the injured list soon.
Luis Severino is working his way back to bolster the rotation and Dellin Betances is making progress as well.
Dellin Betances threw a 20 pitch bullpen session. 17 fastballs 3 breaking balls. With a huge smile said the ball was coming out good… really good. Expects to throw another bullpen (about 25 pitches) on Wednesday #yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) August 12, 2019
Although the bullpen has been a major strength for the Yankees, Dellin Betances would be a major addition. The flamethrowing right-hander has a career 2.70 ERA and 1.045 WHIP. Adding Betances to a bullpen that already includes Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, and Adam Ottavino is a scary proposition.
Although he hasn’t pitched an inning for the Yanks this season, this latest bullpen session is solid progress. He’s dealt with a bone spur behind his right shoulder and a right lat strain.
The good news for the Yankees is that they don’t need to rush back anyone on the IL, Betances included. The Bombers are nine games up on the second-place Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees should cruise to their first AL East title since 2012.
Betances could be a valuable asset in the postseason. It’s almost a certainty that the Yankees will lean heavily on the bullpen in the playoffs. It’s not crazy to think manager Aaron Boone will opt to go with a “bullpen game” in a five or seven-game series.
Having Betances as one of the weapons to deploy in an all-hands-on-deck situation would be ideal for Boone and the Yanks.
