Motivated Acevedo wants return to the Bronx
TRENTON » There wasn’t much time to take everything in, but Domingo Acevedo took a moment to look in the mirror after he put on his pinstriped No. 70 jersey.
Acevedo spent last Saturday on the Yankees’ 25-man roster after they called him up to serve as cover against the Mets in case starter Sonny Gray got into trouble early in the game. Ultimately, Acevedo didn’t get to make his major league debut and was optioned back to Double-A that night.
He took his turn in the Thunder’s rotation on Monday night and delivered his third straight quality start with seven solid innings and then talked about his big league call-up.
“That’s me,” Acevedo said. “That’s my dream.”
By now most know the story when the 24-year-old heard a knock on his hotel room door last Friday.
“I was watching Netflix and the manager goes to my room and knocks on my door and I said, ‘Who’s knocking on my door right now? It’s 11 (at night)!’” Acevedo recalled. “I look and it’s the manager and I say, ‘Oh s---! I don’t know why the manager is here. Why does Jay Bell need to talk to me? It’s not good.’
Of course it was to deliver the news he was going to join the Yankees.
“Oh my gosh, I felt hot,” Acevedo said. “The energy in my body, I (was breathing) harder and got a big hug from my pitching coach and Jay Bell. Then I say I need to call my mom.”
Ranked as the organization’s No. 7 prospect, Acevedo, who is on the 40-man roster, has pitched well for the Thunder with a 2-3 record and 2.81 ERA in 12 appearances. He has 46 strikeout against 19 walks in 57 2/3 innings.
He missed more than a month early in the season due to a nasty blister on his right index finger that caused a reduction in his velocity. When he returned, he was built up slowly, piggybacking as a reliever in his first three outings before starting the last seven.
“I’m more hungry,” Acevedo said. “I want to continue to work harder and more concentrated on my job. I want to be 100 percent ready (to go) back to the big leagues.”
Now that his velocity has returned to its usual upper-90s, the 6-foot-7 Acevedo presents an intriguing option for the Yankees. He’s comfortable as either a starter or coming out of the bullpen and could provide an upgrade as a middle reliever or spot starter.
“I don’t control that,” Acevedo said. “I know that’s not my job. I can control keeping working and staying healthy. I can continue working and be ready for the next time. I’m back to (Trenton), and I’m excited because I know the team. … It doesn’t matter for reliever or starter, I’ll be ready for everything.”
Until then he’ll be motivated to earn a return call to the Bronx.
“When I go to the field, I take some grass,” Acevedo said, “and I say, ‘It’s not fake, it’s real.’” New Hampshire (Jays) Trenton (Yankees) Hartford (Rockies) Binghamton (Mets) Reading (Phillies) Portland (Red Sox)
Western
Akron (Indians) Altoona (Pirates) Harrisburg (Nationals) Erie (Tigers) Richmond (Giants) Bowie (Orioles)
Tuesday’s games
Binghamton at Bowie Harrisburg at Portland Hartford at Trenton Altoona at Akron Binghamton at Bowie Richmond at Erie
New Hampshire at Reading
Wednesday’s games
55 54 49 47 47 41
W
60 52 51 48 46 45 43 46 49 52 53 58
L
41 45 49 52 53 54 .561 .540 .500 .475 .470 .414
Pct
— 2 6 81⁄2 9 141⁄2
GB
.594 — .536 6 .510 81⁄2 .480 111⁄2 .465 13 .455 14 Hartford at Trenton, 11 a.m. Binghamton at Bowie, 11:05 a.m. Harrisburg at Portland, 12 p.m. Altoona at Akron, 12:05 p.m. Richmond at Erie, 12:05 p.m.
New Hampshire at Reading, 12:15 p.m.