The New York Yankees are just three weeks away until they open up the new season and there’s a lot to look forward to despite the recent injury news. J.A. Happ is someone who Yankee fans should be fired up about. Even though 2019 wasn’t his best year, he’s completely revamped his game and is looking like a new player entering the new season.
It was reported that Happ was not happy with his 2019 campaign and as soon as the season ended he wanted to get to work to revamp his delivery and mechanics. He was down in Tampa super early to work on this new “whippy” delivery that would allow him to get more spin and break on his pitches. As seen in the Spring Training games so far, it seems that this new delivery has been super effective.
Even though Happ’s sample size isn’t a ton, Happ has only allowed one earned run in each of his starts and looks like a totally different pitcher than last year. In nine innings pitched, Happ surrendered that one run while fanning 11 batters, allowing four hits, and one walk.
4.0 IP // 2 H // 1 BB // 0 R // 6 Ks for J.A. Happ tonight ? pic.twitter.com/zW6U1dozjz
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 5, 2020
If Happ is able to come into the season and light it up for the New York Yankees, it could really take a load off the offense with these current injuries. The rotation would be a lot more comfortable too since Severino and Paxton are missing significant time. The heat would also be taken off the bullpen if Happ is able to get deep into games which is something the rotation struggled with last season.
I think a lot of people forget that Happ is an MLB veteran that is going into his 14th year in the big leagues. This is a guy who went 20-4 in 2016 with the Blue Jays and didn’t lose a game in 2018 for the Yankees when he was traded over from Toronto. It’s very possible that 2019 was just an offseason and he could totally turn it around this year.
An all-star type season for Happ this year is very possible. It shouldn’t be surprising if he comes out and is lights out for the Yankees this year.