March 23 – Happy Birthday Dellin Betances

Today’s Pinstripe Birthday celebrant was one of the “Three Killer B’s” who received lots of media attention during the Yankees’ 2011 spring training season. His name is Dellin Betances, and he was born on March 23, 1988, in Brooklyn, NY. He started off the 2011 grapefruit season with a bang when in his first appearance that spring versus Tampa Bay, he fanned both Manny Ramirez and Evan Longoria. This guy is an intimidating 6’8″ right-hander who can throw a fastball, with OK control consistently in the mid nineties and if the situation calls for it, he can ramp it up to the high nineties. He also has impressed the Yankee brass with his curveball and a very usable changeup, which is rare to see from such a young pitcher.

So what is Betances’ negative? He has already undergone elbow surgery so there are ongoing concerns about his ability to stay healthy. And since he struck out Ramirez and Longoria in that spring training game two years ago, he’s done little else to impress the Yankee brass. He did appear in his first two big league games for New York during the 2013 season but he has again failed to make Joe Girardi’s 2013  regular season roster. If he doe not pitch well in the Yankee farm system this year or has trouble staying healthy, his status as a top Yankee prospect may be history. He is the third member of the All-Time Yankee roster to be born on March 23rd, joining this former first baseman and this one-time catcher.