TAMPA — The Yankees have talked about many of their pitchers entering spring training with a better foundation from their offseason work.
Ron Marinaccio has taken that literally.
A stress reaction in his shin late in the 2022 season limited his offseason preparation entering 2023, when he took a step back from his strong rookie season.
This offseason, though, Marinaccio was able to get in all of his lower-half strength training, giving him a better foundation that the Yankees believe can help him bounce back as a bullpen contributor in 2024.
“I don’t think he had a good base coming into camp last year, just from the lack of lower-half strength work and power development,” pitching coach Matt Blake said Saturday. “I think he was playing from behind the 8 ball last year and it snowballed on him a little bit.”
After working his way into some higher-leverage appearances early in the 2023 season, Marinaccio had a 4.08 ERA with 27 walks in 47 ¹/₃ innings by July 31 when the Yankees optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
His delivery had gotten out of whack, which especially hurt for a pitcher who relies on deception.
Things didn’t get any better once Marinaccio got to Triple-A as the right-hander struggled to an 8.80 ERA with 18 walks in 15 ¹/₃ innings.
But with a full offseason under his belt — and feeling stronger in his legs — Marinaccio has a chance to reclaim a spot in the Yankees bullpen, especially with Scott Effross on the 60-day injured list to start the year.
“He’s a factor for us if we can keep him healthy and get him behind the ball,” Blake said.
Marinaccio threw two innings of live batting practice Saturday and, after allowing some loud contact early, got sharper and flashed an improved slider as his third pitch.
“He’s probably in as good a spot as he’s been in in a couple years,” manager Aaron Boone said.
For someone who recently strained his calf, Jose Trevino is still doing plenty.
The Yankees catcher arrived at spring training with the lower-leg issue that Boone said would keep him out of the first week or two of Grapefruit League games.
But Trevino has still been catching bullpen sessions — including Clarke Schmidt’s live session Saturday — along with some running and recently started hitting, as well.
“He’s doing well,” Boone said. “But he’s not ready, like he couldn’t play in a game and run full-bore. But everything else he’s pretty much doing now. He’s probably a couple weeks behind, but able to do quite a bit.”
New lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson was one of nine Yankees who threw live batting practice Saturday before the rain arrived at Steinbrenner Field.
“Elite fastball,” Boone said. “Now just tinkering with his different slider/cutters. … He’s been good and as advertised.”
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