The Yankees top prospect, Manny Banuelos, saw mixed results in the early months of this season. The left handed pitcher emerged out of the early spring throwing an improved curveball and a new cutter to compliment his already plus fastball and changeup. For the 21 year old pitcher entering the 2012 season in Triple-A, his success was never questioned by the quality of his pitches, but instead contingent upon his command.
In three spring training outings, Banuelos inconsistently pushed across 4 walks in his 5.0 innings, and through his first two starts with Scranton, he went an atrocious 5.1 innings, giving up, 14 hits, 6 earned runs, 7 walks, and only 2 strikeouts. He threw an uninspiring 82 strikes out of 155 pitches, a 53% strike rate. Perhaps just as we thought he was heading down the Andrew Brackman nightmarish career path that culminated with the Yankees last year, Banuelos was sent to the disable list with back problems.
Scouting reports from before 2011 largely suggested that the youngster appeared to be a quick mover, and his success would rely on his ability to develop his third pitch, the curveball. The command problem was a non-issue for Banuelos, who’s worst seasonal walk rates topped out at 3.5 BB/9. Last year’s 4.9 BB/9 rate was the first instance that command would be a weakness, truly his only major blemish holding him back from huge projections. While some assumed that the move from facing single-A hitters to double-A hitters caused the spike in walks, some scouts believed that he still possessed the advanced command he sported in three prior seasons, but was trying to hit corners too often. Perhaps the flaw holding him back, isn’t a flaw at all.
While we won’t know the state of his command issues until sample sizes increase, his healthy return to the majors over the last week has resulted in walk rates we haven’t seen from him in a while. Although Banuelos is still in the process of being stretched out, since being activated off the disabled list, he’s gone 8.2 innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 run, 8 strikeouts, and 0 walks. Aside from these incredible numbers, his strike rate has also increased from 53% to 64%, as he threw 87 strikes in 135 pitches. The numbers are a very short sample size, but for his first two healthy starts in 2012, Banuelos has shown no signs of command issues.
This from a friend at the Banuelos game today: “ridiculous FB command tonight. MLB quality.”
— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) May 9, 2012
If the lefty continues to show that his command is a non-issue, the best place for his progress would be the major leagues. For a lefty who’s next step appears to be developing the cutter, the major league Yankees are the best equipped team to develop the pitch. Mariano Rivera, the man who made a living out of throwing the best cutter in baseball, has obviously suffered a terrible season ending injury, but there could be a silver lining with him remaining with the team and lending his knowledge to the clubhouse. Along with Mo, Andy Pettitte‘s return in pinstripes gives them one of the best lefty throwing pitchers to ever throw a cutter. Pairing Banuelos with Rivera and Pettitte could be a defining point in his career, something that might not be possible in the future. From a strictly development standpoint, there seems to be little more the 21 year old could learn outside of the majors if command is a clear non-issue by mid-season. Promoting Banuelos to the big leagues could happen sooner than we expect.
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8 Responses to Why Banuelos Should Be In the Majors If Command Success Continues
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TIQ IQ
I couldn’t disagree more. Banuelos has never thrown more than 129 innings in a season. He needs at least a full year at AAA in which he builds up his arm strength.
Cashman is on record that he has no plans to promote Banuelos this year and that he thinks starters should ideally log 600 innings in the minors (Banuelos was at about 345 to begin the season).
Hughes had great fastball command in the minors too. After watching how they mishandled Joba and Hughes by rushing them through the minors, why on earth would you want to see them do the same thing with Banuelos?
I’ve gotta side w/BG on this one, Mike. The most important thing for Manny at this point is to log innings and learn how to turn lineups over. Unless he’s absolutely going to start for an extended period of time (which won’t happen unless a LOT of people get hurt and/or are extremely ineffective), he needs to stay in the minors for now.
I’ve seen all this kid’s starts since he hit SWB last year and for his age he’s been pretty good-minus the command issues. His last 2 starts have indeed been very impressive. But I see no reason to rush a kid that just turned 21 to NY (assuming as you mention that his good command continues), unless there’s an injury. Barring an injury in NY I highly doubt we’ll see him up there this year other than maybe a Sept. callup. Cashman has pretty much said the same thing. I don’t see him changing his mind unless something unforeseen happens.
Yup. I say aggressively promote hitters. But go slow with pitchers. Its just not time yet. June of next year.
I agree that Banuelos needs to get his annual innings up, to at around 155 innings. Once he approaches that limit, if he is continuing to show good control and pitching well, then and only then should promotion be considered. If necessary, he could make a spot start or two, or be placed in the pen to pitch an inning to two at a time. In other words, I would not want Banuelos put into the rotation for any extended period of time. Nor should be promoted and placed in the pen at the expense of getting his proper work in as a starter. He is still very young and should progress so that he can make a major contribution to the starting rotation in 2014.
Absolutely not with respect to the bullpen suggestion. The last thing we need is for him to succeed in relief role and spark a media frenzy about how Manny really belongs in the bullpen. This is, in no small way, part of what ruined Joba and Hughes as starters. I hope the Yankees will learn from those mistakes – but, of course, they probably won’t.
Agree with other commenters here. Banuelos has only logged 48 innings at AAA with hardly stellar results. It’s hard for me to see how he could be construed as MLB-ready at present.
Mike,
Bad posting when no one aggrees with your commentary.
I’m also in disagreement and disbelief on why you would want to rush this kid? Are you bored with the team the way it is assembled already?