LESS IS MORE: Hard-throwing Yankees prospect Danny Burawa (above) has reduced his walk rate by trying at times to use a gentler delivery this summer with Double-A Trenton. (
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It’s somewhat counter-intuitive, but Danny Burawa needs not to try so hard.
The Yankees right-handed relief prospect — a Suffolk County native and St. John’s alum — is a hard thrower with a violent delivery, prone to losing command of the strike zone. The key to Burawa’s effectiveness, says Tommy Phelps, his pitching coach with Double-A Trenton, is easing off the throttle.
“It’s not trying to max out every pitch,” Phelps said. “Find the effort level where he’s repeating his delivery and competing to the point where he’s not beating himself with walks or falling behind in counts. It all goes with the approach and mind-set.”
PHOTOS: POST COVERS A-ROD THROUGH THE YEARS
Burawa was lighting up radar guns and turning heads in spring training last year before a torn oblique muscle cost him the 2012 season. He had a reasonably effective April this year in his first exposure at Double-A, then lost his way: From May 14 to June 20, Burawa walked multiple batters in eight of nine appearances and threw more balls than strikes in five of the nine.
In the next 18 games, though, the 24-year-old had a sparkling 0.65 ERA and .124 average against with 25 strikeouts and just eight walks in 27 2/3 innings.
“He was struggling with his mechanics, started searching and got astray and lost his confidence a little bit,” Phelps said. “But he’s found a groove and he’s been throwing strikes.”
Burawa features a simple but nasty two-pitch mix: a fastball that runs 95-98 mph and has some sink down in the zone and a sharp-breaking, mid-80s slider he uses as an out pitch (“I’d like him to use it more early in counts — he doesn’t use it enough to get strike one,” Phelps said). A scouting report published by Baseball Prospectus cited “near elite arm strength and violent stuff,” yet forecasted “the below-average command will keep him from pitching in the back end of games.”
Phelps projected Burawa could arrive in The Bronx as soon as next year or 2015.
“He’s got enough stuff, his stuff’s at the top end of the chart,” Phelps said. “In the big leagues, it’s about throwing strikes. He’s getting there.”
* Mets Double-A right-hander Noah Syndergaard fired his third straight start of five shutout innings last night (this time with 10 Ks). Phelps’ view from the opposing dugout from Syndergaard’s late July start against Trenton:
“Electric fastball … big body … curveball’s coming along … threw a couple changeups and one wasn’t the right spot for it, that got hit for a homer … really good arm … one of the better fastballs I’ve seen this year … big upside.”
* Top-rated Yankees outfielder Mason Williams, who turns 22 on Wednesday, made his Double-A debut Thursday night. Williams hit .261 with a .327 on-base percentage, three homers and 15 steals (in 24 tries) in 100 games with High-A Tampa. He takes the place of another highly touted center fielder, Slade Heathcott, who was shut down — likely for the season — with tendon damage in his right knee.