MLB rosters expand to 40 players, on Monday and one player who could get the call to the major leagues is pitcher Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees’ second-round draft pick from Mississippi State.
Lindgren was the team’s first pick, as they forfeited their first-round pick when they signed Brian McCann.
Though he was only drafted in June, Lindgren — a 5-foot-11, 180-pound southpaw — is tearing up the minor leagues, and is using his arsenal to post otherworldly strikeout numbers.
“He has a plus fastball [and] it’s got good movement — it acts like a cutter or a slider,” said a scout who has seen him pitch. “His slider [which he throws in the mid-80s] acts like a power curveball. His fastball is around 93 miles per hour. They both move.”
After signing for $1.1 million on June 14, Lindgren made his minor league debut two weeks later in rookie ball, and then moved up to Single-A Charleston, striking out 11 batters in five innings.
From there, Lindgren went to High-A Tampa and dominated, notching 17 strikeouts in 7¹/₃ innings. He made his first appearance for Double-A Trenton on Aug. 6, and entered Friday with 18 strikeouts in 11¹/₃ innings.
Put it together, and Lindgren has allowed only 22 baserunners in 24 ²/₃ innings, with 48 strikeouts.
“He’s done well attacking the zone,” Trenton pitching coach Tommy Phelps said. “He gets guys out.”
“He has moved up the ladder quite quickly,” Yankees pitching coordinator Gil Patterson said. “Sometimes, people move up because of need. He’s moved up because he’s earned it. Each level he’s been at, he’s done what we’ve asked him to.”
One of the biggest keys for Lindgren going forward will be to “pace” himself through a full season.
“He’s learned to be a professional, [and] the season is longer,” Phelps said. “He’s already done by now with summer ball in college. [He must be] prepared to compete, take care of his body.”
“His fastball command [could improve].”
Though there is no guarantee Lindgren’s strikeout numbers will translate to the major leagues, the scout feels bullish about him, but the process may take time.
“This guy has had immediate success,” the scout said. “If he stays in the bullpen, he might get to the majors quicker. In the right situation, you can call him up and he’ll get a lefty out, pitch the bridge inning.
“Not every pitch is a strike — he’s had some strikeouts on pitches out of the zone which may not be [the case] in the majors … Can he get a big league hitter out? Yes. The whole time? That’s asking a lot for any young player.”