In the world of baseball, numbers often tell a story, and for the Yankees' 22-year-old pitching phenom, they’re practically shouting. With a jaw-dropping 0.66 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and only six hits allowed over 13 2/3 innings, this 6-foot-7 right-hander is making waves. But it's not just about stats-it's about how he commands the mound with a repertoire ready to dazzle.
This spring, he's been a force against both lefties and righties, painting all four corners with a dynamic four-pitch mix. As the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect and ranked No. 79 overall by MLB Pipeline, he was recently reassigned to Minor League camp.
No surprise there-the Yankees' rotation is packed, and they want him to stay stretched out rather than slotting him into the bullpen. But make no mistake, he’s on the cusp of a Major League call-up, ready to step in when needed.
Let’s dive into what makes his pitching so electrifying.
THE FASTBALL
When it comes to power pitching, his fastball is in a league of its own. Clocking in at a blistering 102.8 mph, he recorded the fastest tracked strikeout of the spring against Toronto's Jesús Sánchez.
He even touched 103.1 mph in that game. This isn’t just about speed; his rising fastball wreaks havoc both high in the zone and at the knees, as Minnesota's Brooks Lee found out when a 102.1 mph heater zipped through the bottom of the zone.
THE BREAKING PITCHES
His arsenal includes two wicked breaking balls: a slider with a sharp, late break, and a sweeper that boasts extreme horizontal movement. He’s been pinpoint with both this spring, baffling hitters from both sides of the plate.
Take the slider he unleashed against Boston's Braiden Ward-a 94.1 mph beast that ended up behind the lefty hitter’s back foot. To put that in perspective, only a handful of pitchers managed a strikeout with a slider that fast last year.
And then there’s the sweeper. Typically tricky against lefties, he’s shown no hesitation in using it, catching Max Ferguson looking with a back-door beauty. He’s also adept at placing these breaking pitches on the outside corner, like the sweeper against Kristian Campbell that caught him checking his swing.
For righties, his wipeout slider is a menace, as Ryan Jeffers of the Twins discovered. Following up with a sweeper just off the corner and a 102 mph fastball, he left Jeffers swinging at air. Pure artistry.
THE CHANGEUP
His changeup is another weapon, leading to more strikeouts this spring than any other pitch in his arsenal. It’s been particularly effective against lefties, like the one he threw to Boston's Tsung-Che Cheng. The 92.2 mph pitch had 16.7 inches of arm-side run, fooling Cheng into a swing as it darted out of the zone.
Righties aren’t safe either, as Detroit's Jake Rogers learned with a 92.5 mph changeup buried down and in for a swinging strikeout.
The Yankees are playing it smart, not rushing him to the Majors just yet. With a full rotation, even as Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole recover from injuries, there’s no immediate need. But if he keeps this up, they might have no choice but to find a spot for him in the big leagues.
When that day comes, the league better be ready.