Here are the basics on the Yankees’ first wave of September call-ups

With rosters expanded, the Yankees will add eight players to their active roster before tonight’s game. These are mostly role players to help off the bench and in the bullpen, but there are a few familiar names in the bunch. More call-ups will surely come later in September, especially when Nick Goody and Nick Rumbelow have been back in Triple-A long enough to return.

Four of these players are not currently on the 40-man roster and will have to be added. The Yankees currently have one roster spot open. They could also, in theory, put Jacob Lindgren on the 60-day disabled list to open another spot (could do the same with Domingo German but might prefer not to start his clock). Purely my own speculation, but the fact Chris Martin and Cole Figueroa weren’t called up makes me think they’re DFA candidates.

After posting the first wave of September call-ups last night, let’s start today with a little more about the guys being added to the roster.

—

Dustin Ackley
Outfielder/second baseman

Who he is: Former No. 2 overall draft pick of the Mariners, he’s shown some flashes of hitting in the big leagues but has so far fall far short of expectation. Still just 27 years old.
Where he’s been: Traded to the Yankees just before the trade deadline, Ackley played in two games – both off the bench – before going on the disabled list with a back injury. It’s his first ever DL stint. Ackley spent the past five days hitting .471 with two homers in Triple-A rehab games.
Why he’s here: Left-handed power bat off the bench with the ability to play second base and all three outfield positions (and maybe some first base in a pinch). Yankees initially thought of him as a more versatile version of Garrett Jones.
What the future holds: With another year of team control, Ackley could legitimately play a role next season as an everyday option at second base or as a versatile role player off the bench. Still pretty young. Power might play up in the Bronx.

—

Andrew Bailey
Right-handed reliever

Who he is: Former Oakland A’s closer had shoulder surgery in 2013 and has been working his way back ever since. Yankees signed him at the start of spring training in 2014 and have stuck with him through a slow return.
Where he’s been: After an early season setback, Bailey got to Double-A Trenton in late June and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in late July. Had 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Why he’s here: Strong strikeout numbers and low opponents’ batting average suggest he could be an interesting middle-inning option. There’s obvious curiosity about just how good he could be at this point in his career. Not particularly old, just coming back from a lot.
What the future holds: Deciding whether to bring Bailey back could depend entirely on the way he performs in this final month of the season. The Yankees have stuck with him through his rehab, so clearly there’s some intrigue.

—

Caleb Cotham
Right-handed reliever

Who he is: Former fifth-round pick who became an overshadowed prospect after some injury problems early in his career. Was a starter most of his career before converting full-time to the bullpen late last year.
Where he’s been: Not even invited to big league camp, Cotham bounced between Double-A and Triple-A earlier this season before getting a big league call-up in late July. He’s pitched in the big leagues twice.
Why he’s here: He’s regularly thrown multiple innings this season, so he can provide some long relief when necessary. His big league debut impressed Joe Girardi, but his second big league outing wasn’t nearly as good.
What the future holds: Hard to tell. Seems to be a DFA candidate just because there’s so much right-handed relief depth, but so far the Yankees have chosen to keep and use him, so he could be an up-and-down option again next year.

—

Rico Noel
Pinch runner/outfielder

Who he is: A former fifth-round pick who was released by the Padres and signed by the Yankees earlier this season. Noel has one massive tool, and that’s his raw speed and ability to steal bases.
Where he’s been: Played in both Triple-A and Double-A this season. Most notably, spent most of the past month being used almost exclusively as a pinch runner with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He went 9-for-12 on stolen base attempts. He’s hit .059 with a .273 on-base percentage.
Why he’s here: Noel has the kind of speed that other in-house options — aside from Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury — just don’t have. Can play a very specific pinch running role off the bench.
What the future holds: This is almost certainly a short-term move meant to add speed while rosters are expanded. His 40-man spot will surely go to a Rule 5 candidate this offseason. Hard to carry a pure pinch runner on a 25-man roster.

—

James Pazos
Left-handed reliever

Who he is: Former 13th-round pick went to the Arizona Fall League in 2013 and has since emerged as a strong left-handed relief prospect. Was in big league camp but didn’t get a lot of attention.
Where he’s been: Opened the season on the disabled list, then went to Trenton, then jumped from Double-A to Triple-A in mid-June. Strong strikeout totals. Low batting average against lefties. High walk rate.
Why he’s here: Needed Rule 5 protection this winter anyway. Could be a good early inning left-on-left matchup option saving Chasen Shreve and Justin Wilson for later in the game. Could also fit as a middle innings reliever against either lefties or righties.
What the future holds: Seems to have legitimate potential for a lasting career. Of course, he’s also in a system that’s suddenly loaded with left-handed relievers. Put him on the list of bullpen options who could shuttle back and forth next season.

—

Jose Pirela
Utility

Who he is: Once a largely forgotten prospect, Pirela hit his way back onto the radar last year. He can play second, third and the outfield corners, and he landed a spot on the 40-man roster with a September call-up last year.
Where he’s been: Really struggled in a part-time role in the big leagues earlier this season, but when given everyday at-bats in Triple-A, Pirela hit .325/.390/.433 with more walks than strikeouts.
Why he’s here: Despite his early season struggles, Pirela has offensive potential to go with an ability to play multiple positions. Also brings some speed off the bench and occasional right-handed balance to the lineup.
What the future holds: The Yankees tried to give Pirela a bench job this season but he had a .535 OPS. Without an elite glove, Pirela’s going to have to hit to stick in the big leagues. Could be optioned back to Triple-A next year to again serve as infield depth.

—

Rob Refsnyder
Second base

Who he is: The Yankees’ top second base prospect got a brief big league look this season, but the jury’s still out on whether he can step into an everyday role in the big leagues as early as next year.
Where he’s been: Got a four-game call-up to the big leagues but has otherwise spent the year in Triple-A hitting .271/.359/.402 through an up-and-down season. Had his second straight two-hit game last night.
Why he’s here: The Yankees clearly prefer Stephen Drew as the everyday guy at second base, but Refsnyder can play a role and bring some right-handed balance at the position. Could get some at-bats against lefties, though Pirela and Brendan Ryan are alternatives for that kind of role.
What the future holds: Still up the air. Refsnyder had an uneven year in Triple-A, but he has the potential to be a bat-first middle infielder. Yankees didn’t trade him at the deadline. Will they give him a shot next year? Is he heading back to Triple-A?

—

Austin Romine
Catcher

Who he is: Second-round pick got a long look as a big league backup in 2013, but Romine was surpassed by John Ryan Murphy last season and was taken off the 40-man roster when he didn’t make the big league team out of spring training.
Where he’s been: After clearing waivers in April, Romine went back to Triple-A and hit .261/.313/.381. He earned a spot in the Triple-A All-Star Game, but his numbers dipped significantly in the second half.
Why he’s here: With Gary Sanchez out with a hamstring injury, Romine jumped back to the top of the minor league pecking order behind the plate. He’ll be the standard third catcher, a role that’s almost always added in September. If Sanchez is able to get healthy this month, though, it would seem Romine’s role could be short-lived.
What the future holds: Hard to say. Out of options and clearly behind Murphy on the depth chart, there’s little guarantee Romine will last the winter on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. If he does, he’d have to beat out Murphy for a job next spring. He might be better off elsewhere.

Associated Press photo

The post Here are the basics on the Yankees’ first wave of September call-ups appeared first on The LoHud Yankees Blog.

from lloydcurry1 http://ift.tt/1hQUGwk