TAMPA – If there was any doubt as to why the Yankees kept Domingo German after fulfilling the MLB suspension, he went back to showing on Wednesday what the team still sees on the right.
German excelled in his second spring break, playing three shutout innings and eliminating three in a 6-5 victory over Pirates at Steinbrenner Field.
“He’s looking for the role out there,” said coach Aaron Boone of the right-hander, who is trying to win a spot in the rotation. “We are very excited about his position.
So it’s German.
“I think those were the two perfect outings for me,” said German through an interpreter. “I haven’t faced hitter from the big leagues for a long time, so I want to attack the zone and I have been able to do that.”
The German needed just 31 shots to complete his presentation – the day after Deivi Garcia also made an impression in his second early spring.
But he said he’s not thinking about the competition: “For me, [my focus] it’s just doing my job and letting the front line decide. “
The Yankees first saw their substitute pitchers on Wednesday and the results were encouraging.
From Aroldis Chapman showing off his new divider, to Darren O’Day cheating hitters with his delivery, to Chad Green hitting the side in his only work shift, the trio looked as good as advertised.
The exception was Justin Wilson, who allowed two homers and failed to make it out of the sixth entry.
Chapman entered playing in the high 90s and broke the divide he developed last season, launching an especially effective one for Wilmer Difo. O’Day continued with his difficult delivery – and mid-1980s fastball – in the fifth.
“Everyone has a different virtue, ” Chapman said through an interpreter when asked about O’Day. “He found a way to be effective, and at the end of the day, he finds a way to get the guys out – just like me. We, as players, are all different. The end result is to get the job done ”.