No. 3 prospect Loaisiga returns from DL
TRENTON » No one can be certain whether Jonathan Loaisiga will pitch again for the Yankees this season, but Thunder manager Jay Bell plans on grooming him for another opportunity.
Loaisiga, the organization’s No. 3 overall prospect, came off the disabled list Friday and started for the Thunder in their series opener against New Hampshire at Arm & Hammer Park.
The 23-year-old right-hander has been out of commission since July 5 with a shoulder injury. He made four starts for the Yankees earlier this summer, allowing six earned runs in 18 innings.
“Here’s a guy that has pitched in the big leagues and pitched well in the big leagues,” Bell said. “We’re trying to build him back up so that he can go help New York compete for a playoff run here the next month and a half.”
Trenton planned for Loaisiga to pitch three innings, but he only lasted one and a third before reaching his pitch limit. He hurled 22 of 41 pitches for strikes, allowing one run on one hit while striking out two, walking two and hitting a batter.
Loaisiga’s velocity was most encouraging. On the first at-bat of the game, he struck out Bo Bichette, the No. 9 overall prospect in MLB’s top 100. Three of the six pitches in that sequence were at least 95 mph. Two were 96, including strike three looking on the lower outside corner.
But command eluded Loaisiga, who fell behind in the count on five of eight batters and surrendered an RBI double on a 3-2 pitch to Harold Ramirez out over the middle of the plate.
Prior to the outing, Bell was unsure if or for how long Loaisiga will remain in Double-A as he builds back his arm strength. He recently rehabbed in the Gulf Coast League.
Loaisiga has never pitched in Triple-A. In 25 innings (six starts) earlier this year, he posted a 4.32 ERA with 32 strikeouts and only three walks.
Meanwhile, another top prospect is also on the mend.
Domingo Acevedo (upper arm soreness) is slated to begin a rehab assignment within a few days, Bell said. The 24-year-old right-hander spent one day in the big leagues July 21, but his Yankees debut has been on hold since returning to the minors.
Two outings later on July 28, Acevedo departed in the fifth inning after feeling something off in his bicep.
The location of his rehab hasn’t been finalized. Bell said it will likely be in Staten Island.
“Probably one or two starts, and then more than likely come back here and finish this season with us,” Bell said. “It’d be kind of nice to have some of those guys that are on the DL back working full strength again. We don’t have enough time in the year to get him back up to the pitches that he was at before, but it’ll be nice to have him back.”
The Thunder also placed third baseman Mandy Alvarez on the DL with a quad injury.
Danienger Perez was called up from Staten Island to replace Alvarez, who is second on the team in RBI (54) and third in home runs (11).