After Chance Adams was promoted to Double-A Trenton this week, it left a spot open for another pitcher to join the Tampa Yankees. Seventh-ranked prospect, Domingo Acevedo, received the call to join Tampa from Low-A Charleston. The 22 year-old, 6’7 right-hander out of Dominican Republic is the second highest pitching prospect in the Yankees’ system behind James Kaprielian. Not only has Acevedo earned his promotion, but the Tampa Yankees needed another top arm now losing Adams and Vicente Campos to Trenton.
Acevedo had stunning numbers with Charleston this season sporting a 3-1 record with a cheap 1.90 ERA through 42 1/3 innings pitched. Along with his 48 strikeouts in that time, his walk ratio was also low which earned him a .96 WHIP. Acevedo joined the Yankees as they took on the St. Lucie Mets in their last game of a four-game series. The Yankees offense has dwindled in the last couple of games and they were on the verge of dropping three games in a row trying to clinch an FSL first-half division title.
The Yankees’ seventh-rated prospect lived up to his hype on Wednesday night to say the least. In the the first inning he came across some trouble with New York Mets’ catcher Travis D’Arnaud as he was still on his rehab assignment. Travis nearly took Acevedo deep, but settled for a double off the wall in left field. Following the double, Acevedo was faced with his first fielding test with a bouncer back up the mound. The chopper bounced off of Acevedo, however he seemed to take his time fielding it and the throw was late as a speedy Amed Rosario was the runner. Ace’ got out of the inning with no damage done though, striking out Kevin Taylor to strand runners on third and second.
Domingo would keep the Mets scoreless for the first four innings, but the Yankees would be equally unsuccessful with one hit until the seventh inning. He’d give up just four hits in his 5 2/3 IP, striking out four and giving up one earned run. The one run came from a single, balk, and two back-to-back sac-flys to advance the runner home. Acevedo would pitch 87 pitches on the night and 65 of them were strikes. He’d induce four groundouts and eight flyouts, besides D’Arnaud’s double, the other three hits were all ground balls (two being bunts).
My final thoughts on Domingo Acevedo’s debut.
He took the loss, but he definitely pitched up to expectation in his Tampa Yankees debut. His command was better than expected, his velocity went up as the game went on, and hitters had to work hard to get a pitch they could even attempt to turn around. His fastball (according to the scoreboard at Steinbrenner Field which isn’t always the most accurate) had him at 93-97 mph. What I did notice was his struggle to field balls, which is almost expected somewhat from a lengthy 6’7 body, but you almost felt he was putting himself in risk each time he had to make a play. This isn’t a huge issue, but faster players could take advantage of it. The Mets just happened to have about three to four guys in their lineup who fit that criteria. All in all, considering his command and almost every hit the Mets managed was on the ground, his debut earned an A- grade. His first inning boosted his pitch count a bit, but he could’ve very well went six full innings. At no point did he look not in command of the game, nor did he look flustered with the Mets’ speedy runners on base.
Again, the Yankees offense was nearly non-existent as the two games before Wednesday’s 2-1 loss they were shut-out. They remain a win (and Clearwater loss) away from clinching the Florida State League North first-half division title. The Yankees head back on the road to Lakeland where James Reeves will make his third start of the season.
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