Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets and RHP Jimmy Yacabonis have agreed to a minor league deal, according to MMO’s Mike Mayer.
The New Jersey native was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB draft after attending St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. Consequently, he made his MLB debut in 2017 for Buck Showalter‘s Orioles in a rough outing that resulted in allowing four earned runs in one inning pitched.
Despite a rocky debut, Yacabonis went on to accumulate a respectable 4.35 ERA in his rookie campaign. However, he has not seen the same type of success since that year. In his MLB career, Yacabonis has pitched to an unimpressive 6.03 ERA with an uninspiring 1.695 WHIP that tells the story of his control issues. He has worked as both a reliever and starter in the big leagues with 13 of his 71 major league appearances coming as a starter.
In 2022, Yacabonis posted an 8.36 ERA and 2.14 WHIP, but did strike out 21 batters in 14 innings between the Marlins and Rays. The 30-year-old is primarily a sinker-slider pitcher with his fastball averaging 93.7 mph this past season. He’s had some success with his slider in previous seasons (.189 AVG in 2019), though hitters crushed the pitch in 2022 to the tune of a .739 slugging percentage.
During this past season, Yacabonis’ new teammate Pete Alonso hit a massive long ball against him. Yacabonis tried to beat Alonso with his sinker but Pete was not fooled, to say the least. Alonso’s home run traveled 433 ft while amassing an exit velocity of 110.4 mph.
The Mets continue to add bullpen depth after trading for Elieser Hernandez and Jeff Brigham and claiming Tayler Saucedo, William Woods and Stephen Ridings off waivers earlier in the offseason.
Although Yacabonis has not been a successful MLB pitcher, the Mets can see him as a depth piece that could benefit them if they are able to lower his walk total. Moreover, his local roots and familiarity with Buck Showalter may have played a role in this signing.
