Carter finds success in new role
TRENTON >> The Thunder’s doubleheader against Portland began with a taste of how the Yankees intend to turn Will Carter into a big-league pitcher.
The right-hander transitioned to a relief role this season after four years as a starter in the organization. Carter was the first player to take the mound in Trenton’s 6-2 win in Game 1 at Arm & Hammer Park, but that was because the Thunder needed an extra starter Monday.
Carter’s middle relief workload — 2 2/3 innings — is what fans can expect this summer from the 26-year-old former 15th-round draft pick.
Manager Pat Osborn said that the decision to change Carter’s role was two-fold.
“Will kind of fell into a category of a starting pitcher that paced himself, so he didn’t have his best stuff every time out as a starting pitcher because he tried to kind of save it so could get through five, six innings,” Osborn said. “His stuff may have played down a little bit. Now he gets in the bullpen he knows max two innings, maybe three, just depending on what the need is. He can go out there for six outs and let it go, and that’s what you’re seeing now.
“It’s going to keep the wear and tear down, the mileage down, help him stay active, help him stay off the IL because he’s had some aches and pains over the last couple years with his arm. But I think that’s the biggest thing is it’s two-inning stints, pedal to the metal right away, let that good stuff play up from the first pitch to the last and no fear of having to kind of keep anything in the tank.”
Carter threw a season-high 63 pitches against the Sea Dogs, allowing three singles, a solo home run and two walks with one strikeout. The outing was a mixed bag after he labored in the third. He needed 30 pitches to record two outs and departed with the bases loaded.
But his velocity topped out at 97 miles per hour, according to the stadium scoreboard, and he induced five ground outs with solid command of his sinking fastball.
That’s been the theme so far out of the bullpen for Carter, who now sports a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings. Eight of his 11 outings have been scoreless. Last season he struggled to be healthy and effective as a starter, posting a 5.65 ERA in 51 innings.
Osborn believes Carter’s trajectory is comparable to lefthander Stephen Tarpley, who was a starter in the minors from 2013-16, became a reliever in 2017 and made his debut for the Yankees last season.
“It’s kind of the path that Will’s on right now,” Osborn said. “Similar pitchers, heavy sinker. Will’s velocity, he’s got more horsepower behind his sinker. But you can kind of see Will Carter building and building and building, and if he stays healthy, by the end of this year, who knows where he’ll be? He could be up with the big club helping them out. You just never know.”
After Carter left with two outs in the third, reliever Kaleb Ort and Daniel Alvarez finished the seven-inning game with 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Hoy Jun Park batted 3-for-3 atop the lineup and drove in the Thunder’s first run in the second with a two-out triple after Gosuke Katoh’s walked and stole a base.
Ben Ruta smashed his second home run of the season to give Trenton a 4-1 lead in the fourth. Mandy Alvarez extended it with a two-run single in the fifth.