JUST’ DO IT!
some point this year,” Sheffield said Wednesday. “That being said, all I can focus on is doing what I can do on the mound and producing.”
Added Adams: “Absolutely. I wish it would’ve happened every year before. But it’s just the way it works out. I just go out there and try to do my work, and when they see what they like, they’ll bring me up if they think I can help the team win.”
The Bombers already have their 2018 rotation filled out in the form of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery. Chad Green is being stretched out as a starter during the spring, and Brian Cashman has been attempting to add another starter during the offseason via free agency or trade.
But it’s a long season, and things can change. Regardless, both hurlers — who could start 2018 at Triple-A Scranton — continue their respective developments.
Sheffield, a 21-year-old lefty, has drawn comparisons to Mike Hampton and projects as a No. 2-3 starter. His fastball sat between 94-96 mph this past fall.
“He’s got three-plus pitches, but he needs to improve his fastball command,” said one scout who believes he’s big-league ready. Another talent evaluator, though, feels Sheffield is still about a year away.
He spent most of last season with DoubleA Trenton, going 7-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts but was also sidelined by an oblique injury. Sheffield did pitch in the Arizona Fall League, though, and produced a 3.10 ERA in five starts.
“That was really big for me coming off my injury,” Sheffield said. “I felt really good out there.”
He is currently working on maintaining his delivery and developing his backdoor slider — a pitch CC Sabathia is extremely successful with.
“I’ve always been throwing it ‘back-foot,’ so being able to have that pitch in my backpocket and being able to pull it out would help me a lot,” said Sheffield, who hasn’t been told which minor-league team he’s going to play for yet.
Scouts are mixed on whether Adams, a 23-year-old righty, ultimately ends up as a starter or reliever.
“He’s a bulldog who pounds the zone with his fastball (94-96 mph) and has a plus breaking ball,” a scout said. “I see him more as a reliever at the end of games.”
Adams has always won in the minors, though, going 15-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 27 starts between Double-A Trenton and TripleA Scranton in 2017.
“Whatever I can do to help the team: starter, reliever, doesn’t matter,” Adams said.
Adams is currently focusing on improving his fastball command and developing his changeup with Larry Rothschild. His out pitch is his slider.
“It’s a very important pitch,” Adams said of his change. “Against lefties, everything is going into them, so it’s nice to have something that goes away.” Sheffield and Adams are close. “I love the way he plays the game and attacks hitter,” Sheffield said.
The two play the popular video-game Fortnite with fellow prospects and Greg Bird, who is said to be pretty good, according to Sheffield. Sheffield and Adams both got a brief taste of big-league hitters in their first big-league camps a year ago.
“I’m still going to have the butterflies,” said Sheffield, who retired Hanley Ramirez at Fenway South. “But I feel like I’m ready to face those guys. I feel like I’ve put myself in a spot to compete against those higher-up guys. I’m excited to get it going.”
As part of Captain’s Camp, Sheffield said the Baby Bombers went to dinner with Aaron Judge, Tyler Wade and Bird on Tuesday night. What doesn’t matter: top-prospect lists. “To me it’s just a list with a bunch of names,” Sheffield said. “Once you’re out there on the mound, everything is equal.”
BULLPEN ROLES
Boone wouldn’t commit to naming Dellin Betances as his setup man for 2018. Betances, a four-time All-Star, lost that job last season after struggling with control and walks. The Bombers have a loaded power bullpen that also features Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson, Chad Green and Adam Warren.
“Those are conversations that we’ve already had,” Boone said. “We have thoughts about how we want to use guys. We’ll expect flexibility out of most of our guys, but I think the one exciting thing about our bullpen obviously is (we have) a lot of elite caliber bullpen pieces and guys that can get both handed-(hitters) out.” ... Boone said both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton will take reps in left before spring games get underway. Boone said it’s a possibility Brett Gardner would patrol left in home games, with Judge or Stanton doing so in ballparks with less room in left. … Boone on wanting Judge to cut down on his strikeouts: “The bottom line is when he controls the strike zone, he’s as deadly as anyone in the game.”