Carlos Rodon finally returned to the Grapefruitreeg's postponement last Friday after pitching in the backfield for most of March.
When he did, the Yankees opening day starter unveiled a small pet project that may or may not be part of his game this season: Sinker.
According to Statcast, Rodón threw only four in the spring finale against The Tigers, but it could be another pitch that will help remove the batter from the bread and butter pitch.
“Another wrinkle to his arsenal – not just four seams and sliders can predict,” pitching coach Matt Blake said this week. “Last year, I added Changeup and Changeup and Curnball. I'm considering adding one seam to his mix and seeing where it goes.”
Clark Schmidt also adjusted his sinker this offseason to become a one-season fastball, but his announcement in the real game won't come until April as he began the season on an injured list and scored a pitch count.
Meanwhile, Rodon will get his first crack at the Brewers at Yankee Stadium on Thursday following a spring that appears to be a more consistent weapon than last season.
“I'm going to throw it in more situations with more confidence,” Blake said. “Even if people rely so much on their fastballs, or with him try to avoid the slug.”
Last season, his opponent hit .262 with a slugging percentage of .514 from Rodon's four-seam fastball.
However, its use fell from his rocky first year in pinstripes (60.3%) when he began expanding Arsenal.
“Last year, I felt calm,” Rodon said. “Make a start all of it. I hope it gets a little better, especially in the postseason, but I feel comfortable where I am.
Some of the latest Yankees were looking forward to their first day in the Bronx.
“I think it's going to be electricity on Thursday,” Cody Bellinger said. “I myself, every day, I always get those anxiety and geese bumps and nerves. It's probably going to be a whole other level of the Bronx, so I'm excited to be a part of it.”
Maxfried, who will start Game 2 on Saturday, had planned to immerse himself in the environment on Thursday.
“It would be fun to be able to sit there and have fun just like everyone else,” Freed said.
The Yankees will hold a moment of silence on Thursday for Miller Gardner, Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son He passed away last week on a family holiday.
Andy Pettit throws away the ritual first pitch.
By the end of the camp, the Yankees were using the relaxed facial hair policy: Rodon, Devin Williams, Jackson Dominguez, Yondris Gomez, Mark Reiter Jr., Oswald Cabrera, Pablo Rays and more. Will Warren.
Aside from the slow movements on the outside, Gomez and Brent Headrick appear to have won the last two spots in the bullpen after the Yankees opted for an option to Triple A on Wednesday.
The team also made lots of injured list movements, placing DJ lemahieu (calf strain) and Giancarlo Stanton (right and left elbow epicondilitis) on 10 days of IL and Clayton Beetel (shoulder collision syndrome). Loaisiga (recovery of elbow surgery) and Clarke Schmidt (rotator cuff tendonitis) IL for 15 days.
