When the Yankees traded much of their minor league pitching base on expiration last year, it was natural to wonder who they could call up if they needed rotation replacements this year.
Now, Johnny Brito showed some promise in 10 games, including nine starts, and right-hander Randy Vazquez had a solid MLB debut Friday night as a stand-in for suspended Domingo German.
Vazquez, 24, who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game, allowed two runs on 84 pitches in the 4th/3rd inning in a 5-1 loss to the Padres on Oct. 11. , stole six strikeouts. The Bronx were hurt by a two-run homer by Juan Soto in the fifth inning.
Vazquez impressed the Yankees with his composure and more.
“He threw the ball well,” said bench coach Carlos Mendoza, who acted as acting manager on Friday, after coach Aaron Boone was given a one-game suspension for dealing with the umpire. “His presence in front of the crowd on Friday night was fantastic against a very good line-up.”
Especially for players who haven’t been to a major league ballpark until Thursday.
“It’s not easy coming here after attending your first major league game,” Mendoza said. “I’m sure he grew up watching Soto.” [Fernando] Tatis [Jr.]. He handled it really well. ”
Vazquez held the Padres scoreless over four innings, but stalled in the fifth.
After pitching well at Double-A Somerset last year, Vazquez further cemented his status as a prospect with a strong run in spring training against the Phillies in Clearwater.
Vazquez said he was pleased with his performance on Friday and took some time to understand his surroundings before the game.
This is the final stop on a journey that began when Vazquez signed with the Yankees from the Dominican Republic for just $10,000.
At 19, he was older than most prospective clients signing with the organization.
Entangled in a pitching duel with San Diego’s Joe Musgrove, Vazquez swept out the first two hitters in the top of the fifth in a scoreless game.
But after hitting Jake Cronenworth with a pitch, Soto made Vazquez pay the price with a 3-2 cutter laser shot into the second deck on the right side on the first run of the game.
The rookie then allowed a single to Xander Bogaerts and walked Rougned Odor to end the game.
Ron Marinaccio hit the winning run out of the inning.
With German scheduled to return to the rotation against Seattle on Monday, the Yankees likely won’t need Vazquez again anytime soon, and were given the option to return to the SWB after the game.
They will definitely keep an eye on him, especially if Clark Schmidt remains inconsistent.
Vazquez got off to a shaky start to the season, but has pitched well in his last five starts.
The Yankees didn’t allow a run until Anthony Rizzo’s Rizzo grounder out in the bottom of the sixth, so he didn’t get any help from the hitters while on the mound.
Aaron Judge said of Vazquez, “It was a great performance.” “I told him, ‘It’s our fault as an offense that we didn’t give you a few points.'”
