Predictions Entering Yankees Spring Training

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RHPs Branden Pinder and Nick Rumbelow will round out the Yankees’ bullpen

Mar 3, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Branden Pinder (76) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during a spring training baseball game at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Branden Pinder was a standout reliever from the shuttle of right-handed pitchers that the Yankees used to plug vacant bullpen spots in 2015. His funky side-arm delivery and mid-to-high 90s fastball seemed to find a believer in Girardi, as the young right-hander posted a 2.93 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 27.2 IP. Pinder was also wild from time-to-time, serving up four home-runs and 14 walks.

However, Pinder showed enough poise to be given a bullpen job with a decent spring performance, and if he continues in the right direction he could find himself in the fray for meaningful late-inning outings as a segue to the Yankees three-headed monster.

Another name that received attention out of the Bombers’ minor-league bullpen prospects was Nick Rumbelow . His results with the MLB squad (4.02 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 15.2 IP) weren’t quite as sexy as Pinder’s, but Rumbelow could be of great value for the Yankees as a middle-innings reliever.

Since he’s been stretched out as a starter before in his professional career, Rumbelow can pitch multiple innings out of the ‘pen. Other than Nova, who’s currently slotted into the swing-man role, the Yankees don’t have many other relievers capable of giving them distance. In the event that Nova is used up in a previous game, Rumbelow can go out and pitch 2+ innings and be sent back and forth from Scranton as needed thanks to his remaining options.

Pinder and Rumbelow aren’t the strongest one-two punch in the game, but they can eat some innings and provide solid match-ups against right-handed hitters for the Yankees.

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