Yankees pitching prospect Trystan Vrieling displays promising traits toward development and organizational promotion.
Top Yankees pitching prospect Climbing The Ranks
The New York Yankees are on fire in all aspects of the big-league field and are now getting more traction from the farm system. Amongst various intriguing names in the minors, Vrieling seems to be on a fast track.
The Yankees invested in the offensive market this past offseason to address a severe gap with the sticks. Now that their offensive concern is resolved, what was said on the final bill of sale?
Yankees pitching prospect Trystan Vrieling was a wise decision in the 2022 draft.
The pinstripes parted ways with Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and Greg Weissert. This diluted the New York farm system pitching lineup. Pitchers such as Will Warren, Clayton Beeter, and Yoendrys Gomez keep the prospective arm rankings above water. In addition to these three, Trystan Vrieling has emerged as “a guy.”
The righty-pitcher ranks 22nd of New York’s top 30 prospects for 2024 thus far. An interesting fact about Vrieling is that he bypassed all organizational minor league ranks and stuck it right at double-A Somerset.
Vrieling was drafted in 2022, third round, 100th overall by the Yankees. He spent three seasons with Gonzaga in the NCAA and stinted between the Northwoods League, Cape Cod League, and Arizona Fall League. In four summer and fall stints combined, he recorded a .381 ERA.
The Pre-Draft Numbers That Campaigned The Yankees Pitching Prospect
His cumulative collegiate numbers pushed his case for the draft in 2022. The college junior finished his three years with a 4.31 ERA, threw 137.2 innings, struck out 178 hitters, and walked 73; his RA9 was a 4.77.
His junior year was the campaign for the Yankees pitching prospect. With a .500 win-loss percentage, his year was dominant from an overall statistical and quality perspective. He showed a 1.500 whip, struck out 107, and walked 46. His strikeouts to walks were 2.33, and his SO9 was 11.9. Vrieling showed traits of a guaranteed top-five draft selection.
Yankees Pitching Prospect’s Makeup, Breakdown, And Organizational Value
At 6’4” 200 lbs, Vrieling displays all-around athleticism. His delivery is as simple and relaxed as it gets. His motion from the full is very upright, with a high vertical leg raise and fluent motion down the hill.
The Yankees pitching prospect has four options: a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His pitching consistency is revamping as he was breaking-ball happy early in his career, not establishing the heater. He has a biting fastball with vertical movement; this sits low 90s and works between 95-96 mph max. The curveball and slider are two of his breaking pitchers that he’ll show great trust in, and that have depth. These two options sit late 70s, early 80s and require more bite.
Vrieling employs a changeup that we haven’t seen a whole lot of, and that comes off like a lower-velocity fastball. It seems flat on movement and solid like a fastball. This pitch will be the one to establish in his repertoire.
Regardless of the construction that needs to occur in his repertoire, Vrieling is opening eyes in the minor league world and is shining brighter than expected. He’s fast-tracked right to double-A ball without venturing into the high-A or low-A ranks.
Yankees executives see value and prematurity in his profile, and as long as the performance continues, he can see AAA in no time.
Main Photo Credits: BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL
