Sheffield excited for next challenge on path to Yankees
TRENTON » As Justus Sheffield packed the belongings from his locker inside the home clubhouse at Arm & Hammer Park, there was no question he’s ready for what’s next.
The 21-year-old left-hander has been promoted and will make his next start for TripleA Scranton.
“It’s definitely a step closer, but it’s not the final goal,” Sheffield said late Thursday night following the Thunder’s 3-1 win over Harrisburg. “I still have to put in the work and keep going.”
Sheffield went 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts for Trenton. He struck out 39 against 14 walks and held opponents to a .163 average in 28 innings.
“I was just coming out here and pitching every fifth day,” he said. “I didn’t know how long or anything like that. I was glad to be a part of this team for the month that I was here.”
The move won’t become official until the day of Sheffield’s next start, which is likely on Sunday when the RailRiders travel to Pawtucket. He struck out nine in six scoreless innings on Tuesday in his final DoubleA start.
“I’m pretty excited for him,” Thunder manager Jay Bell said. “He’s done everything that he needed to do to continue to move.”
Sheffield joined the Thunder at the end of the 2016 season and made one regular season start before pitching in the Eastern League playoffs. He spent all of the 2017 year in Trenton and went 7-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts.
“Just day by day I try to get better when I get on the mound,” Sheffield said. “My main thing every year is to pitch deep into the game and give my team a chance to win.”
Ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Yankees’ organization by MLB Pipeline, Sheffield was acquired in July 2106 as part of the trade that sent Andrew Miller to the Indians.
“The sky is the limit,” Bell said. “He’s one of my favorite guys to watch and it was fun for me to manage him.”
Loaisiga solid in debut
While one highly-regarded prospect moved out, another took his place.
Jonathan Loaisiga, the Yankees’ No. 14-rated prospect, made his Thunder debut on Thursday with five innings of one-run ball.
The 23-year-old right-hander allowed six hits, struck out four and walked two.
“I felt a little bit of nerves in the bullpen before the game,” Loaisiga admitted through an interpreter. “As soon as the game started, I went for it.”
A native of Nicaragua, Loaisiga earned his promotion by posting a 3-0 record with a 1.35 ERA and 26 strikeouts against one walk in 20 innings for High-A Tampa.
“I feel like everything they do with me is step by step,” said Loaisiga, who is on the Yankees’ 40-man roster
Loaisiga was originally signed by the Giants in 2013, but struggled with injuries and was released. The Yankees signed him in March 2016, but Tommy John surgery kept him off the field until he made 11 appearances last season between the Gulf Coast League and Staten Island.
“I’m going to have to make an adjustment to how I attack the hitters to try and get the outs,” Loaisiga said.