TAMPA — When Jaron Long arrived at the Yankees complex last August, he was already used to his surroundings.
Unlike the team’s other draft picks — or, like him, free agents — the right-hander had been there before.
As the son of hitting coach Kevin Long, the former Ohio State standout spent plenty of time during spring training in Tampa.
“I’ve been a Yankee fan since my dad has been with the team,” Long said. “I’d spend spring break at big league camp with him and then the summer in New York.”
The 22-year-old would like to have that opportunity again and after taking the first steps by appearing in six games with the Yanks’ Gulf Coast League team and Class-A Tampa at the end of last season, he reported to his first spring training as a pro this week.
Long’s journey to get to his father’s organization wasn’t a smooth one. He spent a year at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona and then had a solid sophomore season at Ohio State before developing a wart issue on his pitching hand. It prevented him from throwing his changeup and derailed his junior season.
Thoughts of getting drafted high enough to leave school a year early vanished, but after getting the warts removed after the college season, Long had tremendous success in the Cape Cod League last summer and caught the eye — once again — of Yankees amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer.
“I knew Damon had seen him a lot and liked him,” Kevin Long said. “When we talked about Jaron, I said, ‘Don’t let me influence you. Treat him like any other kid.’”
And Oppenheimer insists he did.
“It’s one of those situations where you’d rather have your coach’s kids play in other organizations so it doesn’t seem like an issue, but my job is to evaluate talent,” said Oppenheimer, who scouted Long extensively in college, as well. “I don’t care if it’s Kevin Long’s kid or not. He can pitch.”
So the younger Long passed on some other offers and signed a deal with the Yankees in August before going back to Ohio State to graduate a semester early in December.
With a fastball that sits in the high 80s and can reach 93 mph, the 6-foot Long admits he won’t be able to rely on overpowering stuff to succeed.
But over the years, he has gotten pitching lessons from numerous Yankees, including Andy Pettitte.
“He was always willing to talk pitching,” said Jaron Long, who relies on a cutter and a sinker, in addition to the changeup. “But it wasn’t just the big-name guys. I tried to soak in as much as I could when I was around.”
And yes, he understands the irony of the son of a hitting coach becoming a pitcher.
“I’ve heard that a lot,” Long said. “Most people don’t do exactly what their fathers do. I like being able to control the at-bat. I like to read swings. And I feel like my knowledge of hitting is very good and that helps me on the mound.”
He also doesn’t mind choosing a bit of a different path.
“Sometimes you want to make your own identity,” Long said.