Dellin Betances

by Stephcaflowne on Aug 22, 2006 2:40 PM EDT

Remember the 6'8" kid from Brooklyn that everyone knew the Yankees would draft? After falling to the 8th round, the Yankees drafted him and set a new high for slot money in giving him $1,000,000.

It looked like a dangerous deal for a kid whose mechanics have been off at times, his velocity all over the board according to different publications and various reports on his secondary stuff.

But so far, it looks like it's paying off. Last night, Dellin dominated the GCL again, posting this line:

6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 8 K

With that, his season statistics jump to:

1.16 ERA, 23.1 IP, 14 H, 27/7 K/BB.

Pretty good for a guy just out of high school with concerns about his control. Not only that, but reports have him sitting at 93-94 mph and having touched 98 (!) on the fastball. Scout.com (http://yankees.scout.com/2/559290.html registration required) also notes that his offspeed pitches are working well, a knucklecurve and changeup.

He's still only 18 and though at 6'8, still only 185 pounds so he's got even more room to fill out and grow. From what he's shown so far, maybe the rumors and whispers of a first round talent are not so far off as originally estimated.

I always liked him but I didn't expect him to start off this well. What do you guys think? Did every organization miss the boat on this kid (though, mostly because of signability)? Or has he proven nothing yet?

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I hope he is good...

because i am a Yankee fan.

But, I think that he has proven just a little bit at the point, and I thought he was like a 3rd or 4th round talent.

by yanksfan6129 on Aug 22, 2006 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds good.

Sounds like he could be a real steal. I wouldn't get too too excited about GCL numbers, but his ceiling is very high.

by abbreviatedman on Aug 22, 2006 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

Stephcaflowne...

...I'm guessing....anime fan? ;)

by sabernar on Aug 22, 2006 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

Actually no

But I get that a lot. My friend who watches the show suggested it for me and I liked it (my name is Stephen!)

by Stephcaflowne on Aug 22, 2006 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

rating?

I know it's early, and it's only 23.1 IP, but what would his rating be at this point? Anyone care to venture an estimate? John?

by sabernar on Aug 22, 2006 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Too much money

His signing bonus would put him at the top of the supplemental first round. I dont think that he would be worth that, his bust potential as well as his ceiling is very high. On the other hand, one million to the yankees is a drop in the bucket on a worth while cause.

by wir963 on Aug 22, 2006 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

uh

a 6'8 pitcher who touches 98 isnt worth first round supplemental money?

by PooNani on Aug 22, 2006 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

jason neighborhall went 3rd round and hits 99

with nasty breaking pitches, just no control

when your ERA has letters and not numbers, it's a bad thing- kevin goldstein

by WakeboardJock @ Minor League Ball on Aug 22, 2006 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

its a good thing betances cant control his pitches

because that would make it a good comparison

by PooNani on Aug 22, 2006 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

All he's saying...

... is that velocity isn't everything. There are several knocks on Betances that kept him out of the first couple of rounds. Not to the degree of Neighborall, obviously. And a lot of it was his asking price. But most teams didn't feel he was worth his asking price, because of those knocks on him.

Nonetheless, if you've got money to take gambles on guys like Betances, you oughtter.

by abbreviatedman on Aug 23, 2006 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

touches 98?

Let me preface this by saying: I LOVE Dellin Betances

But he does not throw in the high 90s. Maybe he's been clocked there once. Unless he's gained a lot of velocity between the draft and now, Betances throws in the low 90s and touches 94-95.

by jeck on Aug 22, 2006 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions