Dellin Betances Is Proving Himself Early In Spring Training

Feb 26, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher

(68) throws a pitch as he warms up during the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

One of the major questions with the New York Yankees going into this season is the bullpen. Not only is Mariano Rivera gone, but so are Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan. With David Robertson moving to closer, the rest of the pen is in a state of flux.

One of the guys who the Yankees are hoping can claim a setup role in the bullpen is Dellin Betances. Once a hope of a “Killer B” rotation with Andrew Brackman and Manny Banuelos, Betances was converted to a reliever last year and had some success in AAA.

Betances went 4-2 with a 1.35 ERA in 32 games as a reliever. In those 60 innings, he struck out 83 batters. He only gave up 33 hits and held opponents to a .163 batting average. After the AAA All-Star break, he had a 0.37 ERA.

During spring training so far, he’s got 5.2 scoreless innings under his belt. The Tampa Bay Rays broadcasters mentioned how his breaking stuff looked at lot better compared to last year in yesterday’s broadcast.

If Betances can put quality numbers out of the bullpen, it adds another power arm from the right side to go with Shawn Kelley to set up Robertson. The Yankees are trying to build their bullpen with young, cheap, power arms, which is the way it should be done. However, when you do it, it comes with questions like Betances.

Betances is out of options, so this spring is make or break for him. If he keeps this up, Betances will be finding himself in Houston opening night.