The New York Yankees could use all the pitching support they can get entering the 2022 season, especially with liabilities littered across the starting rotation. Relying on the bullpen to pick up the slack seems likely moving forward, and the Yankees have several lowkey options who could make an impact this season.
One of the lesser-known relief pitchers is Ron Marinaccio, who looked stellar against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. A New Jersey native, Marinaccio was drafted in the 19th round of the 2017 draft out of Delaware. After hovering around 92 mph with his fastball, Marinaccio hit 96 against Toronto, showcasing a massive increase in velocity.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy all of a sudden is throwing 97-98 mph because we turn the lights on in Yankee Stadium and there’s an adrenaline bump,” pitching coach Matt Blake told NJ Advance Media.
“He could be a weapon for us this year,” Blake said, “especially with the expanded roster. He’s done a nice job just going out and attacking and learning from the last outing and hopefully building up as we keep going.”