Dellin Betances’ Secret Weapon

Everyone has seen Dellin Betances’ dominant 100 MPH fastball, but that is not the pitch that has helped him reach All-Star status as a premier set-up man for the Bronx Bombers. It has been his secondary pitch, his curveball, that has turned him into a match-up nightmare for opposing hitters. At first glance as a hitter, you can time a 100 MPH fastball after seeing it once, but try to time it when you know the pitcher also has a 77 MPH curveball in his back pocket. That changes the whole approach of a hitter when the MPH difference is over 20.

Betances has proved this pitching combination to be very dominant by his All-Star numbers. In 74 innings pitched, Betances’ ERA is 1.46 and his WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning) is a solid 0.74. Remember back in spring training when the Yankees were not sure if Betances would even make the roster? Well now look at what the Yankees third-best prospect in 2011 has been able to accomplish in just his first season in the big leagues.

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Hopefully there is more to come from Betances, not just the rest of this season, but for many more seasons in the future. Betances has been an anchor of this Yankees bullpen all year. He has been one of the more consistent Yankees pitchers in the ‘pen. According to Yankee’s pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Betances has already established himself as one of the top relievers in baseball in just his first season:

"“Dellin Betances’ fastball has hit 100 mph, but that’s not what’s made him one of the league’s best relievers in just his rookie season,”"

(h/t, Brendan Kuty of NJ.com)

With only a mere five weeks of the season left to go, the Yankees hope to make a late run into October. In order to do that, they will need strong pitching, especially from their bullpen and Betances.