TRENTON — Just in time for a huge series with New Hampshire, the Thunder’s rotation is about to get a huge boost.
The Trentonian has confirmed via multiple sources that top Yankees prospects Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances have been promoted to Trenton.
As for the corresponding moves, it is believed D.J. Mitchell will be promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Cory Arbiso will return to a long relief role.
Betances, a 6-foot-8 right-hander coming off of ligament reinforcement surgery late last season, has been destroying the Florida State League since his return on June 10.
During those 14 starts, spanning 71 innings, Betances has allowed just 43 hits and 19 walks. That last figure speaks to the refined control he has featured.
Before this season, Betances had issued 113 walks in 214 1/3 innings. Not exactly Steve Blass, but certainly not the kind of control you’d expect from someone who warranted a $1 million bonus as an eighth-rounder.
The 22-year-old features a fastball that sits comfortably in the mid-90s and can touch close to triple-digits.
With the heater, Betances also throws a 12-to-6 curveball in the low 80s and a mid-80s change-up.
His apex this season came on August 2, when he fanned 11 in six one-hit innings against the Fort Myers Miracle, Minnesota’s High-A affiliate.
As for Banuelos, whom Yankees VP of Baseball Operations Mark Newman has referred to as “the Mexican Whitey Ford,” the numbers aren’t bad, either.
The 19-year-old left-hander, while winless over 12 starts, has nevertheless posted a 2.23 ERA with 62 punchouts over 44 1/3 innings, including two games of double-digit strikeouts since July 21.
Banuelos, who played in the 2009 Futures Game, recently flashed a 97 mile per hour fastball for Frankie Piliere, a former Rangers scout and a current national correspondent for AOL Fanhouse.
In his report, Piliere said that, if he can remain healthy, Banuelos has the potential to be a “true front-of-the-rotation type pitcher.”
Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, Banuelos came to the Yankees in the same deal as Alfredo Aceves, who, coincidentally, made his third rehab start with the Thunder last night in Portland.
In keeping with their regular days of rest, Banuelos will likely start on Monday, and Betances on Tuesday. That means Adam Warren, who threw 102 pitches in his last start, when he broke the team record with 15 strikeouts against Bowie, would be pushed back to the series finale on Wednesday.
With their new editions, the Thunder’s rotation looks something like this:
1. Banuelos
2. Betances
3. Warren
4. Andrew Brackman
5. Hector Noesi
For the record, each member of that staff was a part of Baseball America’s top 30 Yankees prospects. Banuelos ranked the highest, coming in at No. 6. Brackman was No. 10, Noesi No. 24, Warren No. 26 and Betances No. 28.
Before the promotions were confirmed, there were a few other moves that hinted at what was to come.
To refill the Tampa rotation, Sean Black (a Seton Hall alum) and Josh Romanski were promoted from Charleston. Shane Greene and James Gipson were also bumped up from Staten Island.
Labels: Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos, Starting Pitching, Trenton Thunder
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