The Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent American Association announced today that the contract of right-handed pitcher Andrew Bellatti was purchased by the New York Yankees.

Bellatti, 27, played in 17 major league games for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 after being drafted in the 12^th round of the 2009 draft.  In 23 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay he was 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 18 strikeouts with 10 walks.  Opposing batters were hitting just .198 against him.

In the minor leagues, Bellatti appeared in 197 games, 36 starts, and amassed a 24-27 record with a 3.81 ERA and 470 strikeouts in 475 innings pitched.  He walked 150 batters over seven seasons with the Rays organization.

The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract in March 2017, but he did not play for the organization.  He sat out all of 2017 and 2018, returning to game action in 2019 with the Skeeters.  With Sugar Land he appeared in just one game, striking out all three batters he faced.