When David Phelps went down with an elbow injury, it marked the latest in a series of injuries that have beset the Yankees’ starting pitching staff.
Eighty percent of the team’s Opening Day rotation is out, with Ivan Nova and CC Sabathia done for the season.
Though starters such as Brandon McCarthy, Shane Greene and Chris Capuano have given a boost to the rotation, the Yankees also have had to rely heavily on the bullpen.
With this in mind, the Yankees called up Bryan Mitchell, who was available in relief for Friday’s series opener against the Indians.
In 19 games — 18 starts — split between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mitchell posted a 5-6 record with a 4.29 ERA.
“He has a good arm,” said a National League scout. “He was up to [around] 96, 97 [miles per hour] when I saw him in Trenton.He’s always had good stuff.”
Mitchell has battled bouts of inconsistency this season. He began 2014 allowing eight runs in eight innings, but then bounced back, allowing just one run in 16²/₃ innings.
He then posted an 8.10 ERA in five starts, had a quick promotion to Triple-A, and when he returned to Double-A, he recorded a 3.24 ERA in his final three starts in Trenton before returning to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“It’s just a matter of getting out [on the mound] every five days and repeat his delivery and release point,” Trenton pitching coach Tommy Phelps said when asked what he thought Mitchell could do to correct his inconsistency.
Mitchell’s fastball is his best pitch, but he could stand to work on his secondary pitches.
“He’s got a mid-90s plus fastball [with] some life to it,” Phelps said. “He has a good curveball with depth and bite, a usable [changeup] and cutter. They’re quality, but they needed to be commanded consistently.”
The scout who has seen Mitchell had similar things to say.
“If you were to grade him, [he would be] plus-plus fastball, average curve, average [changeup] and cutter,” the scout said. “He needs to get better command. “He has all the pitches, [but he’s] inconsistent in commanding his stuff [and] tends to pitch in the upper half of the zone. He needs to command his stuff better.”
Mitchell — who was sought after by the Mariners in trade discussions leading up to last week’s non-waiver deadline, in a potential swap for utilityman Dustin Ackley — took the long road to The Bronx, beginning with being drafted in the 16th round in 2009 from Rockingham County High School in Reidsville, N.C.
After spending most of 2010 in the Gulf Coast League, 2011 in Staten Island, and 2012 in Charleston, Mitchell finally rose above Single-A late last year, making three starts in Trenton at the end of the season.
Mitchell started this season in Trenton before eventually getting the call up to Scranton, and now the majors.
It appears Mitchell will be brought along slowly, as he was bypassed for the potential start in Friday’s game in favor of veteran Esmil Rogers.
“I can definitely see him [as a] mid-rotation [starter],” Phelps said. “You can never have enough starting pitching.”