Yankees promote pitchers Justus Sheffield and Jonathan Loaisiga

Yankees pitching prospects, Jonathan Loaisiga and Justus Sheffield are both one step closer to the show, following their promotions to Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton, respectively.

I feel like I’ve been Justus Sheffield’s biggest fan since he was reassigned to Double-A Trenton following a less than stellar Spring Training with the Yankees.

The Grapefruit League was Sheff’s first taste of mostly major league hitting, and it showed during his last day of camp against the Phillies. On that afternoon, the 21-year-old lasted only 1.2 innings while allowing three runs.

However, you could tell that the No. 46 overall prospect in baseball, simply needed more reps down on the farm before getting another look.

And although I was initially surprised Sheffield began the season back in Double-A, it only took 39 strikeouts, a 2.25 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and .160 opponents batting average in 28 innings, to see him sent up the ladder to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In his final two starts for the Thunder, Sheffield tossed 12 innings of one-run ball while striking out 17. Overall, his first five impressive starts had me immediately crying out for a promotion.

Then there’s 23-year-old right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, who after coming to the Yankees in early 2016 from the Giants organization underwent Tommy John surgery and is, therefore, playing a bit of catchup.

Even still, if critics want to point to a mature pitcher working against far lesser experienced hitters at High-A Tampa, it’s hard to ignore a 3-0 record with 1.35 ERA and 27:1 K:BB ratio across 20 innings.

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In 11 starts last season, Loaisiga held a 33:3 K:BB ratio while keeping opponents to a minuscule .148 BAA.

As a potential sign of things to come, the Yankees added the Nicaraguan-native to the 40-man roster last winter as to protect him from the dreaded Rule 5 Draft.

You know, there was a stretch of time when the Yankees promoted their shooters rather aggressively. Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are perfect examples as to why the organization slowed down the maturation process of some of its top pitching prospects.

Chamberlain only saw 126 minor league innings before Joba Rules erupted in the Bronx. And Hughes tossed 270 frames in parts of three seasons.

Even current major league ace, Luis Severino only took part in 321 minor league innings before bursting onto the scene in 2015. Despite a 5-3 record, it can be argued that Severino wasn’t quite ready at the time, as he spent almost the entire 2016 season in Triple-A.

As a comparison, Sheffield has already tossed 420 lower-level frames. 

Following news that Jordan Montgomery will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a left elbow strain, the Yankees will be searching up and down the organization for reinforcements. For the time being, though, both Sheffield and Loaisiga aren’t being considered for anything more than their current duties.

However, should Monty sustain any sort of setback in his recovery, and Sheffield pitches similarly to the way he has to begin the 2018 season, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Sheffield dons the pinstripes later this summer.

Next: The Yankees are streaking, but can they keep it up?

For now, Yankees vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring says Sheffield still has a few things to iron out.

“He’s going to continue to develop, work on the fastball command,” Naehring said.