Yankees feel good about top prospect Elmer Rodriguez ahead of MLB debut: ‘He’s earned the opportunity’
The Yankees like their chances with top prospect Elmer Rodriguez taking the rubber for the first time on Wednesday.
With the Yankees sending Luis Gil down following another rough outing on Sunday, it created another opening in their starting rotation. Some had thought Carlos Rodon could be a possibility the next time through, but they decided to look elsewhere with the lefty still needing two more rehab outings. Instead, it’ll be top prospect Elmer Rodriguez to make his big-league debut.
“He’s a guy we view that’s gonna have a long career,” Aaron Boone said . “He’s coming off a phenomenal year at Double-A and a taste of Triple-A, and has gotten off to a great start there this year -- he’s earned the opportunity. “We feel good about him taking the ball and he’s very, very capable.
” Rodriguez certainly has gotten off to a terrific start, building off of his two strong Grapefruit League appearances and lone scoreless outing with Puerto Rico at the WBC. The talented 22-year-old has pitched to a stellar 1. 27 ERA and 0.
89 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and just one homer allowed over his first four outings down in Scranton. “It’s just the preparation,” he told YES Network’s Meredith Marakovitz . “Just having that mentality to go out and just compete, have fun, and trust my stuff -- I know I have good stuff, I just try to go out and bring the best I can.