Yankees reliever launches PitchCom in impressive outing
There was plenty of competition over Michael King’s most impressive throw of the night, but his best didn’t involve a ball.
In the ninth inning of a game, the Yankees trailed by one run, King was fed up and believed his PitchCom was malfunctioning.
He first believed that he and catcher Ben Rortvedt were pressing the buttons that dictated the call to throw at the same time, then he realized that his device wasn’t working at all.
In the era of the pitch clock, the right-hander wasn’t sure he could call a timeout for a transmitter malfunction.
So, between locations, he took the device out and threw it towards – and over – the canoe.
“It took off like a frisbee and I saw it float,” said King, who tossed the device into the stands, where a fan then had fun pressing the buttons. “Fortunately, it didn’t work.”
The Yankees finally got the PitchCom back, and King’s arm was put to better use for valuable late-inning work in another stoppage appearance.
King threw around a two-out walk to Cedric Mullins in the ninth before Aaron Judge’s homer tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
King came back for the 10th, which started and ended with ghost runner Adley Rutschman at second base.
“I just have to make sure that [Rutschman] don’t move,” said King, who lowered his ERA to 1.95.
King used a substitution to eliminate Anthony Santander, a sweeper to get Ryan Mountcastle, then had Adam Frazier line up with a leaping Anthony Volpe.
“He’s such a weapon, and he was great tonight,” said manager Aaron Boone, who also got quality work from Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta in the 6-5 win.
Josh Donaldson is once again set to be an option for the Yankees — and when he’s ready, he’ll be more than an option.
Donaldson, whose rehab assignment “could be imminent,” Boone said, will have a day-to-day role when he’s ready to contribute.
“Go when we get there, but happy to get a good player back,” Boone said of Donaldson, who he said would be a regular in the roster.
Donaldson played five games this season before straining his right hamstring in early April. He began a rehab assignment on April 18, but also completed it that day, as he continued to feel tension in his hamstrings.
The third baseman slowly rebuilt himself before suffering another (minor) setback, when he recently sliced his thumb while assembling something at his house for his daughter.
Donaldson took batting practice on the field Tuesday and could begin a second rehab assignment as early as Thursday.
Without Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu was used most often at third base, which freed up second base for Gleyber Torres. Oswaldo Cabrera and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also saw time at third base for a team that, when healthy, has a packed infield.
Boone has repeatedly trusted Donaldson’s bat, which didn’t appear last year (.682 OPS).
Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) has practiced batting on the field and needs to undergo further testing before the Yankees decide on his next step.
Stanton, who was injured on April 15, “feels really good,” Boone said, as he steps up his baseball activities.
They hope to find out when he can start a rehabilitation mission by the end of the week.
“Ensuring we are fully healed and ready to go,” Boone said.
Jose Trevino (left hamstring strain) ran into the field and will begin normal baseball activities “probably at some point this week,” Boone said.
The first Trevino could be activated from IL 10 days is Sunday.
” I do not know if [Sunday is] still in play or not,” Boone said, “but he seems to be going in a pretty good direction.
Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendonitis) pitched two scoreless innings with Class-A Tampa and expects to pitch Thursday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
After that outing – which will likely include four withdrawals – he hopes he can then be ready for his 2023 debut.
“I think my stuff is there. It’s ready to roll,” Kahnle said.
Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The New Jersey native was on the court before the game and chatted with judge and Yankees executive Omar Minaya.
Minaya’s son, Justin, and Towns could be teammates for the Dominican Republic squad for the FIBA World Cup this summer.
New York Post
