Prospect Vasquez gets call

The Yankees are about to get their first real look at their next wave of pitching prospects.

In need of a spot starter with Domingo German still serving his 10-game suspension for a failed foreign-substance check, the Yankees will call on 24-yearold right-hander Randy Vasquez on Friday to make his MLB debut against the Padres, either as a starter or bulk reliever behind an opener.

“Very surprised,” Vasquez said through an interpreter Thursday after arriving in the Yankees’ clubhouse before Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Orioles. “You’re always waiting for that call. It’s a call [I’ve] been waiting [my] whole life for. … Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to pitch in the big leagues. So, very exciting that it’s going to be [Friday].”

Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Vasquez would be part of the Yankees’ pitching plans Friday “in some way, shape or form” — so not necessarily as a traditional starter. But having not pitched since May 17 for Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre, Vasquez can give them length.

Because of German’s suspension, the Yankees were going to need an extra starter (or a bullpen game) for either Friday or Saturday. They decided to give Luis Severino, who will now pitch on Saturday, an extra day of rest heading into his second start of the season and use Vasquez on Friday.

Vasquez, the Yankees’ No. 9 prospect and third-ranked pitching prospect, according to Baseball America, made the most sense to receive a spot start because he is already on the 40-man roster. He had also been pitching better of late after a rough start to the season in his first taste of Triple-A.

“Good arm, good stuff,” Boone said. “He’s been pitching pretty well. He’s had some games where he walked some guys, but is getting swing-and-miss too. He’s the next guy up right now with an opportunity.”

Across his last five starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Vasquez had a 2.67 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in 27 innings. It was an improvement over his first four starts, when he had an 8.62 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 15 2/₃ innings.