The New York Yankees are preparing for a competitive spring training session starting next month. Management has brought in a myriad of different outfield options to compete for the vacant left-field position. Oswaldo Cabrera, Aaron Hicks, Willie Calhoun, and Rafael Ortega are the prominent names that will have a shot to earn starting reps during the 2023 season.
While the projected winner is Cabrera, he needs to showcase that his defensive excellence in 2022 wasn’t a mirage. However, the team has also brought in several bullpen arms to gain some experience against higher talent levels. Their latest elevation is RHP Sean Boyle, a 26-year-old relief pitcher out of Selden, New York.
What does Sean Boyle bring to the Yankees?
Boyle was drafted in the 25th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft. He featured with Somerset in Double-A and Scranton in Triple-A last season. He enjoyed 19 appearances for Somerset and nine with Scranton, earning a combined 3.71 ERA across 155.1 innings.
In fact, he pitched 108 innings with Somerset, logging a 3.75 ERA, giving up 91 hits and 15 homers with 117 strikeouts. With Scranton, he posted a 3.61 ERA, giving up 47 hits, 10 homers, and striking out 43 batters. Across both teams, he struck out more than 10 per nine, which is a solid number the Yankees might be able to extrapolate on.
Given Boyle’s ability to pitch a significant number of innings, he has starting pitcher longevity. Back in 2021, Boyle put together two performances that finished in combined no-hitters.
His capabilities allow him to be used as a starter and reliever, featuring a repertoire of pitches that include a fastball, sinker, and slider. The Yankees love sinker/slider combination pitchers, so there’s no surprise they’re elevating him and giving him an opportunity to showcase his talents at a bigger level.