Albert Abreu sincerely believes that is the place he belongs. The 26-year-old right-hander doesn’t imply that as a daring assertion, that he deserves his spot within the large leagues or with the most effective staff in baseball proper now. No, Abreu feels the Yankees are the place he might be the most effective pitcher he might be.
“When the news came that I was gonna come back and join the team again … it felt like hope, like I was getting hope again,” Abreu mentioned by way of Yankees interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I had lost my confidence and just walking into the Stadium, walking through the doors, I felt a rush of energy and positive energy. And it just let me know that this is where I belong. I felt like a different person right there just walking in this clubhouse.”
The Yankees had hoped {that a} change of surroundings, again to the place he had some success within the large leagues final 12 months, would assist Abreu and them. Monday night time, Abreu appeared like a distinct pitcher. After battling Texas, the place the Yankees dealt him to get Jose Trevino on the finish of spring coaching, and in Kansas City, Abreu threw strikes and commanded the strike zone. He gave the Bombers 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings as they rallied from a season-high-tying four-run deficit to beat the A’s 9-5 on the Stadium.
“Wow, I thought he was great,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “He was pounding the strike zone. You see what he’s capable of when he’s pounding the strike zone. He’s efficient, his stuff was really good and it’s seven big outs.”
The 2.1 innings pitched was a season excessive and probably the most he had pitched within the large leagues since Aug. 11, 2021 with the Yankees towards the Royals. He struck out 4 and walked one.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates and definitely the staff that we have here. We have a really good clubhouse. In previous years, I felt very, very comfortable with the guys in this room, the friendships. I just feel it’s the right place for me,” Abreu mentioned. “And yeah, in an environment like this, I really do feel that I can thrive and help out.”
Abreu didn’t nibble and stayed out of the difficulty he discovered himself in with the Rangers and Royals. In seven video games, Abreu walked 12 in 8.2 innings pitched with Texas and walked 4 in 4.1 innings over 4 appearances with Kansas City.
“Yeah, one way to channel that energy is to focus and stay away from the walks. That’s something that hurt me. And I just wanted to channel that energy, focus on throwing strikes,” Abreu mentioned. “When I know I have the opportunity to be the pitcher that I’ve been the last couple of years for this team. So yeah, definitely focusing on attacking.”
The Yankees claimed Abreu off waivers final week. They had favored the potential they noticed in him final season — the 35 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched — however had traded him together with lefty Robert Ahlstrom to the Rangers for Trevino on the finish of spring coaching. They wanted a catcher since Ben Rortvedt, who that they had acquired in a commerce earlier within the spring, was injured and never prepared for the season and Abreu didn’t have any minor league choices left. That meant in the event that they didn’t carry Abreu on the large league roster, they must designate him for project.
Abreu mixed to permit 5 earned runs on 10 hits and 16 walks over 13 innings in 11 appearances for the Rangers and Royals this season. In 41 profession reduction appearances over elements of three seasons with the Yankees, Rangers and Royals, he has gone 2-1 with one save and a 5.12 ERA.
But after they acquired him, the Yankees felt that pitching coach Matt Blake might assist him minimize down on the walks and deal with the strike zone. Abreu believes that too, which is why he feels he belongs right here.
“I think it was very simple. He brought out positive points from last season,” Abreu mentioned. “He was very clear. And it was just a very positive conversation on how to get back to what we were doing here. That work and like I said a lot of positive reinforcement from him and just using that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com