The Yankees engaged in some strategic bullpen adjustments on Saturday, reassigning Josh Maciejewski and Cody Morris to Triple-A Scranton. The following morning, in preparation for the third game of a four-game series at 1:35 PM against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team promoted right-handed pitcher Yoendrys Gomez from Scranton to the major league roster.
Gomez’s Performance and Impact With the Yankees
The Yankees often rotate their relief pitchers to minimize fatigue and maintain a roster of healthy, effective options. This season, Gomez has pitched 7.2 innings with a 5.87 ERA, maintaining an 80.4% left-on-base rate and a 28.6% ground ball rate. His initial performances were promising, as he did not allow any earned runs across 5.2 innings and achieved eight strikeouts.
Challenges and Setbacks
Despite a strong start, Gomez encountered significant challenges during his third appearance against the Mets, where he surrendered five earned runs and two home runs over just two innings, causing a sharp increase in his ERA. Although this performance was disappointing, it appears to be an outlier. At 24 years old and with one minor league option remaining, Gomez is still considered a potent force on the mound.
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Gomez’s Arsenal and Potential
Gomez has the potential to serve as a long-inning relief arm, a role for which he was developed as a starter. His repertoire includes a four-seam fastball, sweeper, slider, change-up, and curveball, providing him with a variety of pitching options. However, he faces challenges with velocity, averaging only 91.9 mph on his four-seamer. While none of his pitches are outstanding, his array of solid options positions him as a valuable asset in the bullpen.