3 players from Yankees' Spring Breakout showcase the American League should fear

Brock Selvidge

Lefty Brock Selvidge, ranked No. 11 in the Yankees’ system by MLB Pipeline, was dealing on Saturday, allowing only one loud hit in four innings off the bat of Toronto’s No. 6 prospect Addison Barger, who is 24 years old and already had 340 at-bats with Triple-A Buffalo last year.

The 21-year-old Selvidge finished at High-A Hudson Valley last season, going 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA in nine starts for the Renegades, with 46 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. His scouting report includes a 60-grade cutter and a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph, which he can pump up to 97 to complement his best option, that 85-89 mph cutter. His low-80s changeup is a work in progress, but he has an athletic and repeatable, clean delivery.

Apparently Selvidge, a third-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft, “was a no-brainer" to draw the start for the first Spring Breakout game, according to Kevin Reese, the Yankees’ vice president of player development, who cited director of pitching Sam Briend as one of the voices in Selvidge’s corner.

No doubt he was excited when he reported to the right-field bullpen for warmups on Saturday and found Yankee legend Andy Pettitte waiting there for him! They discussed several topics, including him trusting his fastball to get ahead in the count.

“It was kind of surreal. There’s no other words,” Selvidge said. “That is somebody that has done everything that I want to do. As a young pitcher, my goal is that I want to do all of the above — I want to win championships for my team. He’s incredible to talk to. He’s going to give you unlimited help.”