Yankees prospect sends awesome message to ex-coach after 40-man decision

New York Yankees top prospect Roansy Contreras was very grateful to ex-instructor Danny Borrell after making the 40-man roster.

The Yankees had a very seamless 40-man roster decision deadline day on Friday.

Four top prospects got the call (and the Rule 5 draft protection that comes with it), and nobody found themselves knocked off the roster in order to clear space for the new kids. Win-win.

Among the protected was Roansy Contreras, freshly 21 and the owner of a snapdragon curveball that might’ve been poached for a bullpen role by a team so far from contention that they could hide an unprepared pitcher for the full season. It’s a dangerous thing that MLB promotes, but hey, that’s the rule.

Contreras himself seemed quite relieved that he would be staying in the Yankees’ system, though, free to continue his minor-league development at his own pace. And even though one of his mentors is no longer with the team, he still managed to be thorough in his thankfulness to all those who got him here.

Ex-pitching coordinator Danny Borrell, who’s since moved on to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and hasn’t worked with the Yankees in at least a year, received a kind message from Contreras that he just had to share.

2/3...“hey danny this is Roansy contreras , thank you very much for everything you did for me and for your time I am very grateful to you”

As a coach, these are the best messages you can receive. It’s not about improving metrics on a specific pitch, or fixing a mechanical flaw.
— Danny Borrell (@DBo_Jackets) November 22, 2020

Just awesome to know that this kid is 21 years old and still feels indebted to those who got him to this place, even if he hasn’t spoken to them lately.

Whatever Borrell taught Contreras during their time together, it’s clearly working. The kid’s most recent full season as a 20-year-old at High-A Charleston was special; he went 12-5 with a 3.33 ERA, allowing just 105 hits in 132.1 innings pitched.

When he takes the mound in 2021, he’ll be doing so (in Hudson Valley?) with the security that the Yankees believe in him as much as he believes in himself, partially thanks to the instruction of Borrell.

3/3... coaching is about making a lasting impact on a young person, both on and off the field. While I do hope that I helped Ro with his delivery and pitch package, I’m most proud of the young man he has become. Congrats, Ro, on being added to the Major League roster!
— Danny Borrell (@DBo_Jackets) November 22, 2020

Though this particular voice has moved on to greener pastures, Contreras clearly never forgot what he learned.

We can’t wait to see him put it all into action in 2021 and beyond.

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New York Yankees top prospect Roansy Contreras was very grateful to ex-instructor Danny Borrell after making the 40-man roster.

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