TAMPA – Dellin Betances has had his share of ups and downs since the Yankees drafted him in 2006, but nothing compared to the feeling he had when Joe Girardi informed him he had made the Opening Day roster.
Betances and Vidal Nuno won the final two spots in the Bombers’ bullpen, beating out Matt Daley and Cesar Cabral.
“It’s an honor, man,” Betances said. “I grew up in this organization; I grew up watching them. I had a lot of ups and downs, but this is definitely the most memorable moment for me. Making the team out of camp is a big deal for anybody, and for them to bring me into that office and tell me – I’m still in shock. I’m very happy and I’m just here to help the team win.”
Betances allowed one run over 12.1 innings (0.73 ERA), showing a presence and confidence on the mound that hadn’t been there in other years. Betances figures to be in the middle-inning mix when the season opens, but with his sizable frame and blazing fastball, he could find himself pitching later and later in games if he performs well.
“He’s got a lot of potential; he just needs some outings under his belt,” closer Dave Robertson said. “When he’s been up with us before, it’s been quick stints here or there. Now that he’s going to be set in the bullpen, he’s going to have the opportunity to pitch in games where he can make a big difference. You can move up the line in the bullpen by doing that.”
Betances, who grew up in Manhattan and went to high school in Brooklyn, spoke with or texted many family members and friends, many of whom are likely to ask him for tickets for the April 7 home opener.
“I’m out of the bullpen, so I’m not sure when I’m pitching,” Betances said. “I’m going to tell them it’s better to watch it from home.”
NUNO GETS NOD
The decision to take Nuno ahead of Cabral came down to flexibility, as the Yankees liked the idea of having three pitchers – Nuno, David Phelps and Adam Warren – that could give them long or short outings from the bullpen.
“The way it’s constructed with 13 games to go right out of the chute in a row, we just felt the distance and flexibility was more important,” Girardi said.
With Nuno unlikely to serve in a specialist role, Matt Thornton will be the primary lefty-on-lefty reliever. Shawn Kelley is expected to be the eighth-inning setup man.
ALLS ELL FOR JACOBY
Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-5 and played six innings in center field in a minor-league game Friday, reporting no problems with his calf. He will likely play against the Marlins in the Yankees’ spring finale Saturday. … The Yankees siged Alfredo Aceves to a minor-league deal. Aceves, who pitched for the Yankees from 2008-10, had opted out of his minor-league deal with the Orioles earlier in the week. Aceves will be in the starting rotation for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. … Michael Pineda will remain in Tampa when the team flies to Houston Saturday night, as he’ll start a game at the minor-league complex Sunday. Pineda’s first regular-season start is next Saturday in Toronto. … Brendan Ryan will open the season on the DL, but GM Brian Cashman said it’s highly unlikely that he’ll be ready to play when he’s first eligible.
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