WHY DJ MITCHELL DESERVES TO BE WITH THE BIG BOYS

(In Photo: DJ Mitchell)
With Freddy Garcia sliding into the rotation due to Michael Pineda’s shoulder injury, there’s an extra spot open in the Yankees’ bullpen. Even when Pineda was healthy and the Yanks had six starters for five spots, there was an extra spot in the ‘pen, though that spot was reserved for a second lefty. Now, this spot is open for a long reliever and it happens to be up for grabs between DJ Mitchell, David Phelps, and Adam Warren.

Before I explain why DJ Mitchell should win the completion over the other two, let’s take a quick look at how each of these guys have fared this spring…

DJ Mitchell: 7 games, 17.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 13/9 K/BB, 1.14 WHIP
David Phelps: 7 games, 1 start, 17.1 IP, 2.08 ERA, 14/4 K/BB, 1.15 WHIP
Adam Warren: 5 games, 2 starts, 15 IP, 4.80 ERA, 8/1 K/BB, 1.27 WHIP
(In Photo: Adam Warren)
As you can tell by the numbers, Adam Warren will unlikely get the final bullpen spot and David Phelps will win the competition. However, it’s not all about the numbers. I’ve watched all three of these guys very closely this spring and I can tell you DJ Mitchell is right for the job.

For starters, DJ Mitchell’s pitching repertoire is pretty impressive. He has a nasty sinker with screwball like movement that Yankees’ catching prospect Austin Romine calls the best in the system. He also has a pretty nice change-up and a solid curveball. Mitchell also has a career 2.12 career GB/FB ratio in the minors, which can be attributed to his nasty sinker. To have a guy come out of the bullpen like Mitchell who can get a groundball and possibly a double play to get out of a jam would be huge.

The other day I asked scout David P. and Executive editor of Baseball America Jim Callis which of these guys are most likely to become relievers and both agreed that Mitchell’s future is in the bullpen. David P. even said Mitchell is the most likely to become a reliever out of the trio. Read their opinions HERE and HERE.

Joe Girardi and Co. will have to decide who will get the final roster spot later today, and it’s a pretty tough decision. But I think with Mitchell’s pitching repertoire and unlikeliness to become a starter in the big leagues, while Phelps and Warren have a better chance at becoming starters in the majors, it gives him the perfect opportunity to get his feet wet in the majors right now.



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

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