After Thursday’s loss to the Houston Astros, the New York Yankees optioned Ron Marinaccio to Triple-A, leaving many to question the decision. However, the following morning, the team announced the return of Nick Burdi, a hard-throwing reliever, after he completed a rehab assignment in the minors.
Yankees Reassign Marinaccio, Reinstating Nick Burdi
Burdi demonstrated tremendous potential in spring training, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings for the Yankees before a hip injury placed him on the 15-day injured list. He can reach triple digits with his fastball and has impressive strikeout potential, qualities the Yankees hope to capitalize on.
Burdi uses a four-seam fastball and slider, a preferred combination for pitching coach Matt Blake. Opposing hitters have batted just .063 against his four-seamer, with an expected .055 average across 16 at-bats this season. His slider has allowed a .200 average, but with his fastball delivering 21% more horizontal movement than the average pitcher, it remains nearly unhittable at that velocity.
Peraza Progresses to Double-A After Injury Recovery
In addition to reinstating Burdi, the Yankees also announced that infielder Oswald Peraza will progress from Single-A Tampa to Double-A Somerset for his next rehab assignment. In two games with the Single-A affiliate, Peraza notched two hits, a home run, and three runs scored.
The 23-year-old, recovering from a shoulder injury, has one minor-league option remaining. His defensive skills are solid, but he has struggled with consistency at the plate. Last season, he hit just .191/.267/.272 with two home runs and 14 RBIs over 52 games.
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Peraza needs to improve offensively, but persistent injuries have hindered his progress. Staying healthy will be key for him to earn supplementary opportunities, boost his stock, and prove his value, though it remains an uphill battle.