It appears the Yankees have at least found their first successor to Michael King.
Jonathan Loaisiga said he has talked with the Yankees about pitching multiple innings with a few days of rest in between. King excelled at the job before becoming a starter (and then being traded to the Padres).
Loaisiga, who made his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday, said his current plan is to play multiple innings and not pitch back-to-back, but he plans to reevaluate it in the second half.
“The second half, probably one inning, back-to-back days,” Loaisiga said through interpreter Marlon Abreu after a 7-0 loss to the Tigers at Joker Merchant Stadium. “but [it’s an] Ongoing dialogue. ”
The Yankees were cautious with King’s workload last season, not using him every day, mostly because King suffered a broken elbow in 2022.
Looks like he will follow the same type of plan as Loaisiga, who has logged just 65 sq./₃ innings over the past two seasons.
Last year, the right-hander missed four months from surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, then ended his season with inflammation in his right elbow in September.
A season ago, the problem that bothered him most was inflammation in his right shoulder. He also has a history of shoulder tightness, which cost him significant time in 2019 and 2021.
The plan to keep the 29-year-old player healthy includes slowly unraveling him and waiting until now to pitch in a spring game after being relegated to mostly mock games and live batting practice, with the same steady hand. It seems that it includes the use of type. When the season comes, I’ll do my part.
At his best, Loaisiga can be one of the best relievers in baseball, as his 2021 season (2.17 ERA in 57 games) showed. Prompted for the 2021 season, Loaisiga said he wants to repeat as long as he can remain on the field.
“It felt really good out there. This is the first time I’ve seen opposing batters from a different team since back in September,” said Loaisiga, who allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings while averaging 98 mph with his sinker. said. “I feel good and healthy.
Luke Weaver, who could be part of the Yankees’ rotation plan following Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury, threw about 50 pitches in a simulated game after suffering a neck strain early in Tuesday’s game. Ta.
He said he feels good, adding that his outlook on his role hasn’t changed since learning of Cole’s injury.
“I’m just going to come in and get my pitch counts up and do whatever they ask me to do and then make sure I’m ready for anything,” Weaver said. “I don’t think this is a good place to be when you know the decision didn’t come from you and you’re trying to figure it out in your head.”
The 30-year-old right-hander started three games for the Yankees late last season after being selected on waivers by the Mariners.
Manager Aaron Boone announced a preliminary list of notable position players heading into the season’s March 24-25 trip to Mexico.
Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Jose Trevino and Alex Verdugo are scheduled to come to Mexico, Boone said, adding that LeMahieu in particular is looking forward to it.
The Yankees have reassigned left-hander O’Daniel Mosqueda to minor league camp.
