In his first three major league games, Yovanny Cruz has shown excellent stuff, velocity that hitters have not been able to handle and the type of profile that makes a lot of sense at the back of the Yankees bullpen, which could use a shutdown reliever.
And yet after two of these outings, the Yankees have sent him right back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Cruz — who was impressive in two perfect, three-strikeout innings Tuesday — was demoted again Wednesday so the righty could continue to work on his command and his splitter, manager Aaron Boone said.
The 26-year-old flame-thrower has yet to issue a walk in 4 ¹/₃ major league innings but has walked 4.1 per nine innings at the lower level.
He was overpowering against the Tigers this week, averaging 101.1 mph with his four-seamer, while also leaning upon a splitter that induced two whiffs in five swings.
He threw the splitter seven times. In 28 ¹/₃ innings with SWB, he had thrown 18 splitters.
“The splitter, which we saw the other night, is kind of a new thing for him,” Boone said before Friday’s 5-2 win over the Twins. “So we want him to continue to get that going because if he’s got that splitter going and the strike-throwing going, then it gets really exciting.”
Cruz had been summoned originally in May, struck out three in 2 ¹/₃ ⅓ scoreless, one-hit innings against the Blue Jays and then was optioned.
The Yankees had other corresponding options this week as they activated David Bednar from the paternity list — Jake Bird, Camilo Doval and Brent Headrick are able to be sent to the minor leagues without being subject to waivers — but opted to send down an impressive pitcher who they say needs a bit more refining.
“We’re super encouraged,” Boone said of Cruz, “but want him to continue to work and have that splitter going, too.”
On a day the Yankees activated Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon, they started José Caballero over Anthony Volpe at shortstop.
Caballero had been moving all over the field, starting five times in left field, once in center and once in right during Grisham’s absence and four times at third base with McMahon sidelined.
Caballero had been moving all over the field, starting five times in left field, once in center and once in right during Grisham’s absence and four times at third base with McMahon sidelined.
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Boone said he still would “try and take advantage of his versatility where we can,” but Caballero now will see more time at shortstop.
Volpe, too, will see time at shortstop, and it will be interesting to see how the position is split. Boone said Caballero, who had been the starting shortstop just once in the past two weeks entering play, had been expected to see more time at the spot recently but ailments changed plans.
“There’s been a couple days I’ve walked in [the clubhouse] and he’s been in shortstop, and then something’s come up with a player, so we’ve had to juggle the lineup on the fly,” Boone said.
As they activated McMahon and Grisham, the Yankees optioned Oswaldo Cabrera.
After Friday’s game, they optioned Spencer Jones — who had been swinging well but figured to lose time to Grisham — to make space for Brendan Beck, who will start Saturday.
With Beck being called up, the Yankees promoted lefty prospect Kyle Carr from Double-A Somerset to SWB. Carr has pitched to a 4.32 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 66 ²/₃ innings.
