Young Yankees arm emerges top contender to fill spot left by Clay Holmes

Follow Us

The crucible of spring training continues to unveil promising talent within the Yankees’ organization, with right-handed pitcher Yerry De Los Santos emerging as an unexpected standout. The 27-year-old reliever has captured the attention of the Yankees’ brain trust through his masterful command of an impressive three-pitch mix: sinker, slider, and splitter. His early camp performances suggest he could be a significant addition to the team’s bullpen configuration and fill the void left by Clay Holmes.

Yankees in awe of Santos’ strong spring training start

From his vantage point behind the protective screen, Manager Aaron Boone observed De Los Santos’ recent bullpen session with evident satisfaction as the right-hander systematically dismantled opposing hitters. When questioned about emerging talents in camp, Boone’s response was immediate and emphatic.

“It’s good to see him looking like he did when he finished the season (at Triple-A) last year,” Boone said.

Though De Los Santos may not fit the conventional prospect profile at 27, his delayed emergence represents a case of methodical development paying dividends. According to pitching coach Matt Blake, the Yankees view him as a legitimate candidate to strengthen their relief corps, possibly in the immediate future.

Yankees’ growing confidence in De Los Santos

The Yankees’ conviction in De Los Santos’ potential manifested in their swift acquisition of his services during the 2023 offseason, following his nine-year tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The front office’s enthusiasm was so pronounced that they bypassed their usual consultation process with Blake before securing the agreement.

“They were like, ‘This is a no-brainer for us. We really liked him,'” Yankees coach Blake recalled. “A lot of times they’ll run it through (director of pitching) Sam (Briend) or myself, or we’ll get a pretty good look at a bunch of guys and ideas they have. This one was like, basically, at the top of our minor-league board, and we got him early. So, let’s go. For me, I was confident that their process was solid in that regard.”

Overcoming early struggles

De Los Santos’ journey with the Yankees began with considerable challenges, as evidenced by a concerning 5.79 ERA through his first 27 Triple-A appearances. However, a pivotal mid-season adjustment transformed his trajectory.

Under the guidance of minor-league pitching coach Gerardo Casadiego, De Los Santos underwent a fundamental refinement of his splitter. The impact was immediate and dramatic—his final 24 appearances yielded a remarkable 2.04 ERA. His season-ending statistics reflected this improvement: a 4.12 ERA with 55 strikeouts against 19 walks across 59 innings.

Developing a more complete pitching arsenal

While his mid-90s sinker serves as a foundational weapon, Blake identifies the enhanced splitter as potentially the key to securing De Los Santos a permanent role in the Yankees’ bullpen.

The Yankees pitching coach elaborated on De Los Santos’ evolution, highlighting how refinements to his splitter have created a more versatile arsenal effective against both left-handed and right-handed batters. This development complements his established pattern of using his sinker to crowd right-handers and his slider to create separation. The maturation of his splitter has provided crucial versatility, enabling consistent effectiveness regardless of batter-handedness. As the previous season progressed, De Los Santos demonstrated increasing mastery of this pitch, particularly in terms of location control, which became central to his development strategy.

Path to a major league role

Current circumstances in the Yankees’ bullpen present a potential opening for De Los Santos. While established relievers including Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Ian Hamilton, Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill appear set for roster spots, several positions remain contested.

Jonathan Loáisiga’s elbow rehabilitation, projected to extend into late May or early June, creates an early-season vacancy in high-leverage situations. Marcus Stroman’s unequivocal stance against bullpen duty, combined with injury concerns surrounding Jake Cousins (forearm) and Clayton Beeter (shoulder), further expands the opportunity landscape.

Boone’s assessment of De Los Santos’ recent work revealed growing confidence in the pitcher’s development.

“Today, I thought his sinker, slider, and split, all three were good pitches for him, commanding them how he wanted to,” Boone observed. “I think he refined some things and had a really good second half (at Triple-A) and has looked sharp so far this spring.”

A promising outlook for Yankees bullpen

De Los Santos’ continued refinement and impressive spring performances position him as a strong candidate for early-season promotion to the Yankees’ bullpen. His ability to generate ground balls while maintaining effectiveness against both right-handed and left-handed hitters provides valuable versatility to a relief corps that may require reinforcement.

Should he maintain his current developmental trajectory, De Los Santos could emerge as a crucial component in the Yankees’ bullpen strategy as they navigate the demanding AL East competition. His early spring training performances may well presage a breakthrough season for this late-blooming talent.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Follow Us