Yankees history made with Adam Ottavino set to wear No. 0

Just when you thought there were no single digits left for the Yankees to hand out, reliever Adam Ottavino comes along and gets to wear No. 0.

For the first time in the storied history of the New York Yankees, a player will officially wear No, 0. Recent free agent signee and Brooklyn-native, Adam Ottavino, will don the final available single digit on a pinstriped jersey.

While many believed that Derek Jeter would be the last Yankee ever to wear a single number, causing some curmudgeons to take umbrage with Ottavino’s request for zero — general manager, Brian Cashman told Andrew Marchand of ESPN back in 2017, that he had no problem with a member of his club wearing the digit.

"“I have no issue with No. 0,” Cashman said. “To me, it is just a number.”"

According to Marchand, Cashman has very little to do with handing out numbers — that job belongs to team equipment man, Rob Cucuzza.

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"Cashman would chime in only if there is a free agent who requests a certain number, and he might start the conversation to see what the team can do."

Besides, with 21 numbers already retired by the franchise (and No. 8 twice), is zero any more strange than say, No, 80? Ottavino has sported the unique digit since 2013 with the Rockies.

As for numbers still unworn by a member of the Yankees on a major league roster, only 19 numbers remain unassigned or requested.

More important than a number, though, is the way the Yankee bullpen looks to be set up for success in 2019. With a ‘pen highlighted by Chad Green, Ottavino, Zach Britton, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman, it’s entirely possible, should everyone remain healthy, that the Yanks will require six innings-max, from their starters.

Whether you’re of the mindset that bullpen-heavy clubs rarely succeed in the Postseason — well, that’s a discussion for an entirely different time.

Expected to fill David Robertson’s vacant bullpen role, Ottavino will look to replicate his stellar 2018 season. Among relief pitchers, Ottavino finished with 112 strikeouts (fourth-most in MLB), a .158 BAA (fifth in NL) and 77.2 innings pitched (tied for sixth in NL).