New York Yankees Call Up Pitching Prospect Yoendrys Gómez to Make MLB Debut
The New York Yankees have called up right-handed pitcher Yoendrys Gómez from Double-A Somerset, the team announced Friday afternoon.
A spot opened up for Gómez on the active roster when the Yankees placed left-handed pitcher Wandy Peralta on the 15-day injured list with a left triceps strain, retroactive to Sept. 19. Peralta, who had a 2.83 ERA in 54.0 innings out of the bullpen in 2023, is officially done for the season.
Gómez, meanwhile, is in line to make his MLB debut this week. The No. 26 prospect in the Yankees' farm system will wear No. 94 on his jersey.
The Yankees signed Gómez out of Venezuela in 2016, and he remained almost exclusively in Rookie ball until the COVID-19 pandemic erased the 2020 minor league season. From there, Gómez tore his UCL and suffered a significant shoulder injury, but he still managed to work his way up through the system and get significant time on the mound in both 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, Gómez posted a 3.58 ERA across 19 starts with Double-A Somerset while racking up 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The 23-year-old now becomes the first player the Yankees have called up straight from Double-A since they took on the Patriots as their affiliate in 2021.
Gómez has kept his ERA below 4.00 in all five of his minor league campaigns since turning 18 years old.
MLB.com grades Gómez's fastball at a 60, his slider at a 55, his curveball at a 50, his changeup at a 45 and his control at a 45. He is rated as a 40 overall out of 80.
It remains to be seen what Gómez's role will be as part of New York's pitching staff. Manager Aaron Boone has already set aside his starting rotation for this weekend's series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, meaning Gómez's first major league appearance could come as a reliever.
First pitch between the Yankees and Diamondbacks is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday.
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