Adam wows new mates in a hurry

TAMPA — It was quite the introduction. Adam Ottavino faced four batters in a simulated game Thursday morning. The Yankees’ newest reliever struck out all four.

He left his manager shaking his head and sympathizing with the hitters.

“That’s one of the ones where you’re watching from behind and knowing as a righthanded hitter, it’s like, ‘That’s not a fun at-bat right there.’ When (Ottavino) executes, you’re kind of like you’re not even upset when you’re out,” Aaron Boone said. “You’re just glad it’s over with.”

Using a slider and a cut-fastball that hitters called “heavy” and “nasty,” Ottavino struck out the four hitters he faced. He got Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit and Tyler Wade (twice) all out swinging.

“It’s just heavy, his heater, his slider, it’s just different,” Wade said. “I probably saw four or five sliders and all of them were different. That’s going to be pretty key for us. Especially as a hitter, if it looks different, you don’t know what’s coming, so that was impressive.”

The Yankees signed the native New Yorker to a threeyear, $27 million deal this winter because of his re-invented repertoire.

Working in an empty storefront in Harlem with the help of high-speed cameras after being left off the Rockies’ postseason roster in 2017, Ottavino developed a cut fastball and adjusted his slider. He also improved his command.

Ottavino then had a remarkable bounce-back 2018. The 33-year old from Brooklyn struck out 112 in 77.2 innings pitched, the second most strikeouts by a reliever in the majors last season. Equally impressive, he dropped his walk rate from almost seven per nine innings to 4.2.

Watching Ottavino Thursday, Boone was reminded of another Yankee reliever.

“Maybe Jeff Nelson in his heyday, when he was here, that kind of unique angle. I think with Otto, he can shape it a couple of different ways,” Boone said of his slider. “Last year, he sort of added the cut fastball, which he features as well, which is kind of an inbetween of the fastball and the slider for him.”

“And there’s going to be times where hitters will almost try and discipline themselves to really make sure they lay off and not chase the slider,” Boone continued. “And that’s why the ability to strike it becomes important.”

SPY GAMES

MLB issued a five-page memo to reinforce existing sign-stealing rules and outlined new ones needed to keep up with technology. Boone said it will mean some adjustment, but hopes it will cut down on some of the issues. The new rules state there will be no cameras in the outfield between the foul poles, unless they are there for broadcast purposes. It will also limit the video feed that teams use for replay and also the feeds in the bullpen and clubhouse to live broadcasts of the game on an eight-second delay. The team’s replay system will also be monitored by league security.

That was implemented in the 2018 playoffs when both the Red Sox and Indians accused the Astros of trying to steal signs by filming their dugout. In 2017 the Red Sox were caught using an Apple watch to steal the Yankees signs. The Red Sox, in turn, accused the Yankees of using a YES Network camera to steal their signs.

ON THE ROAD

Boone announced that lefthander Nestor Cortes, a minorleague non-roster invitee, will start the Grapefruit League opener on Saturday in Fort Myers against the defending World Series champion Red Sox.