Grade: A
Chad Green is having a remarkable breakthrough season so far for
the Yankees. It hasn’t generated as much attention as it should solely because of the
other amazing performances other Yankees are putting on display. After being a
top flight starter at college baseball powerhouse Louisville, Green found his
pitching career floundering between starter and reliever at the next level.
However, this spring he has adapted exceptionally well to everyday life
in the bullpen so far.
Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images
First Half Performance:
Green has exceeded all expectations through the first half so far
by pitching out of the pen to the tune of a 1.86 ERA. Green has also shown his
versatility by making the occasional spot start for the Yankees. The numbers
that Green have put up go far beyond the impressive ERA. He’s been
consistently showcasing a fastball sitting in the upper 90’s this year. This
ferocious heater had directly led to an uptick in strikeouts and missed
barrels. Green has punched out 36 batters in 29 innings of work. Hitters are
managing to hit only a measly .147 against him.
Second Half Expectations:
Green’s consistent performances have resulted in Joe Girardi’s
confidence in him increasing greatly as the season has gone on. With the heavy
struggles from the rest of the Yankees bullpen over the last month, Green now
looks like the most trusted reliever available not named Aroldis Chapman or Dellin Betances. Specifically, Tyler Clippard’s role out of the bullpen should now be given to
Green. His fastball has shown no signs of slowing down and he should be the
prime candidate to get the first critical outs of the late innings once the
Yankees’ starter needs to be removed.
Conclusion:
Chad Green has the potential to save the Yankees from having to
give up a valuable prospect in order to make a desperation trade at the
deadline. He has only given up 14 hits and two HR’s this year in his 29 IP.
Meaning that if he continues to pound the strike zone, he has the
potential to be a huge asset for the Yankees as the race tightens down the
stretch with the Red Sox for the AL East crown. Look for Girardi to continue to
turn the young righty in big situations in the sixth and seventh innings in order to
bridge the gap to the big guns at the back-end of the bullpen.
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