TAMPA — Greg Weissert’s sweeping slider can bind hitters’ knees, but Wednesday it was his sinker that dropped a batter while swinging.
The Yankees bullpen hopeful threw a 95 mph sinker to Cardinals outfielder Moises Gomez, and as the pitch hit the right-handed hitter, Gomez walked through it and went down in one motion.
“Dude, he’s hot, man,” Gerrit Cole said of Weisert. “He keeps getting better.
“I’ve never seen anybody fall trying to hit a fastball. … My opinion was that he either kept trying to chase it and then lost his footing or he wasn’t sure his pin was going to make it through the swing until he lost his footing. “
Weisert, a Long Island and Fordham product, made his MLB debut with a wild outing against the Athletics last August.
But the right-handed reliever has only gotten better from there and now has a chance to make the Yankees out of camp, especially if Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) has to start the season on the injured list.
With a closed set position that starts with his back almost facing the plate, Weissert is an uncomfortable at-bat for opposing hitters.
“He’s dirty, man,” Aaron Judge said. “You can talk about the slider all you want, but he has a great sinker, it felt good to change him up. And then when you mix in that slider that actually starts as a right behind me, then you’re kind of just trying to guess a pitch and hope you’re right. guessing
Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe have been in the same starting lineup just once so far this spring, but the captain has been impressed with what he’s seen from the club’s top prospect.
Asked if the 21-year-old shortstop could potentially make the jump to the majors out of camp despite only 22 games of experience at Triple-A, Judge said he’s not a scout.
“But I think she has all the makeup tools,” the judge said. “He checks a lot of boxes defensively, offensively. He is a tough batsman. He has speed, which is a big factor in the game now. “My thing has always been, if you’re the best player, it doesn’t matter how old you are, you should help the New York Yankees. It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 41, if you’re the best person for the job, you should play.
Shortstop Oswald Peraza (lower left leg discomfort) participated in live batting practice Wednesday.
According to manager Aaron Boone, he “should be fine” to return to the lineup Thursday.
Nestor Cortes threw three innings of live batting practice and will throw one more session before coming into a game.
The left-hander is behind the rest of the rotation because he entered camp with a hamstring strain, “but he’s in a good spot,” Boone said.
The Yankees unveiled a change that was as dramatic as the new rules allowed, putting center fielder Osvaldo Cabrera in shallow right field—leaving them with just two outfielders—Clay Holmes on the mound and Nolan in left field. Gorman hit at the plate.
“It’s something we’ll definitely consider in certain situations,” Boone said, estimating he could use it five times per season.
