WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH DELLIN BETANCES?

Dellin Betances has been a highly regarded pitching prospect for years now. He was ranked 100th on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect list in 2007, while getting back on the list, checking in at 43rd overall in 2011 before coming in at 63rd overall at the start of this season. But, based on how things are going thus far for him in 2012, he hasn’t come close to his previous billings.

Through 11 starts in AAA, Dellin Betances has a 5.30 ERA, which, of course, is not good, but that’s not the red flag here. The red flag is his walks. He’s walked 46 batters in 52.2 innings which equates to an ugly 7.9 BB/9 rate to go with a 0.98 K/BB ratio. Control has always been shaky for Betances, which could be due to his 6’8” build with his freakishly long legs, but we’re at a point now where this is a real concern and this could ultimately change his future as a Major Leaguer.

Betances is 24 years old and this is his seventh season in the Yankees’ minor league system, so it’d be nice if the Yankees knew what they have with this guy. Given Betances’ recent control problems (5.86 BB/9 rate spanning last 36 starts – 25 AA, 11 AAA – and 179 innings) it may be time for a role change. I’m thinking about moving him to the bullpen, possibly for good.

Betances’ control problems will likely only get worse if he were to come up to the Majors. They won’t magically disappear considering the jump from AAA to MLB is the biggest jump there is unless he makes serious mechanical changes. I say the Yankees should move him to the bullpen sooner or later and tell him to “empty the tank”, if you will, for an inning. I believe this guy can be an electric, late inning reliever if the Yankees choose to go this route, the sooner the better.

I know I’m not a pitching coach, and I’ve only seen a small handful of his games, whether it be during Spring Training or on the MiLB.tv package last season, but based on the results he’s put up in his last 36 starts (most notably his 11 starts this season) it is in my firm opinion that Dellin Betances will be bullpen-bound. I hope I’m wrong with this, however. I want the guy to succeed as a starter, but like I said, he’s 24 years old and the Yankees need to figure out what they have in this guy. Just because he may fail as a starter doesn’t mean he fails as a pitcher in general. Late-inning relievers don’t grow on trees, and Betances has the potential to be a great late-inning reliever.

 
--Jesse Schindler, BYB Lead Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter @SchindlerJesse

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