The New York Yankees are optimistic about their upcoming season in 2024, especially when it comes to pitcher Ron Marinaccio. After a stress reaction in his shin hindered his offseason preparation in 2023, Marinaccio struggled to perform at his best. However, this offseason, Marinaccio focused on strengthening his lower body, which has given him a better foundation for the upcoming season.
Pitching coach Matt Blake believes that Marinaccio’s lack of lower-half strength work and power development last year put him at a disadvantage. As a result, his performance suffered throughout the season. Despite working his way into some higher-leverage appearances, Marinaccio ended up with a 4.08 ERA with 27 walks in 47 ¹/₃ innings by July. He was then optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he continued to struggle with an 8.80 ERA and 18 walks in 15 ¹/₃ innings.
However, with a full offseason to focus on his lower-body strength and feeling stronger in his legs, Marinaccio has the opportunity to reclaim his spot in the Yankees bullpen. With Scott Effross starting the year on the injured list, Marinaccio’s chances of making an impact have increased.
During spring training, Marinaccio has shown promise. Despite allowing some loud contact early on, he showcased an improved slider as his third pitch and impressed both pitching coach Matt Blake and manager Aaron Boone. They believe that Marinaccio is in the best shape he has been in for the past couple of years.
Another player who has been dealing with an injury is catcher Jose Trevino. He arrived at spring training with a calf strain that will keep him out of the first week or two of Grapefruit League games. However, Trevino has been actively participating in catching bullpen sessions, running, and recently started hitting as well. While he is a couple of weeks behind, he has been able to do quite a bit in terms of his recovery.
In addition to Marinaccio and Trevino, the Yankees also have a new lefty reliever, Caleb Ferguson, who has impressed during his live batting practice sessions. Manager Aaron Boone describes Ferguson’s fastball as “elite” and believes that he has been living up to expectations.
Overall, the Yankees are hopeful for a resurgence in the 2024 season. With players like Ron Marinaccio and Jose Trevino working hard to recover from their injuries, along with the addition of Caleb Ferguson to the bullpen, the team is optimistic about their chances of success. The offseason foundation work put in by these players will hopefully pay off and contribute to the Yankees’ success on the field.
