The Yankees secured two wins out of three against the Houston Astros before traveling south to face the Tampa Bay Rays. While the offense performed well and pitching remained steady, the Yankees made a surprising move on Thursday night by optioning one of their in-form bullpen arms back to Triple-A.
Marinaccio’s Reassignment to the Yankees’ Triple-A Affiliate
After Thursday’s loss, the Yankees announced that 28-year-old right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio was sent back down to Triple-A Scranton. Marinaccio has been inconsistent, particularly in 2023, when he recorded a 3.99 ERA over 47.1 innings. However, he’s been far more efficient this season.
In 12.2 innings, Marinaccio has a 1.42 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 93.8% left-on-base rate, and a 37.9% ground-ball rate. His walk rate has improved, but his strikeout numbers have dropped significantly from the 11.45 per nine innings he posted in 2022, his best MLB season.
With one minor-league option remaining, this may be the last time Marinaccio returns to the minors before solidifying his role with the Yankees or being traded, though the latter seems unlikely.
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Marinaccio’s arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, change-up, and sweeper. His fastball generates a .111 batting average with a .178 expected average, and his change-up, arguably his best pitch, has limited batters to a .231 average at 82.2 mph. Overall, his performance has been impressive, providing significant value to the Yankees.
The Yankees have the best bullpen ERA in the league, and maintaining this success is a priority. Since Marinaccio pitched on Thursday, it’s likely the Yankees needed to promote another player for the series against Tampa Bay. His usage in the future will be intriguing, as he remains a valuable asset for the Yankees.