How Jacob Lindgren Could Help The Yankees This Year

May 25, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs pitcher Jacob Lindgren (21) pitches against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second inning of the SEC baseball tournament at the Hoover Met. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees used their first selection and 55th overall on Mississippi State lefty reliever Jacob Lindgren. Lindgren has started at Mississippi State and relieved as well and now can be a Yankee. If you watched the draft, Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis talked about how Lindgren could be the next guy to make his debut the same year he’s drafted.

Lindgren throws 95 MPH out of the bullpen with a wicked slider. If you haven’t seen the video click right here:

Now how could that help? Well, a bullpen of

,

,

and Lindgren could be lethal, especially if the Yankees get their offense together and make a run. Lindgren will need some time in the minors to develop a little bit and the Yankees do have to decide on a role for him, but like the Rays did with

in 2007, Lindgren could be an extra weapon the Yankees may need.

The last guy to do it was Paco Rodriguez in 2012 with the Dodgers when he was a second-round pick.

If the Yankees want to develop Lindgren as a starter then he should be developed the correct way and start in, for example, Staten Island. If they see him as a reliever, and they think he can contribute right away then start him in Trenton and see what happens. He’d probably be an upgrade over Matt Thornton at this point and the cost of trading for another LOOGY is too high.