Jimmy Yacabonis

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Jimmy Yacabonis
Jimmy Yacabonis vs Blue Jays at Camden Yards 9.3.17.jpg
Yacabonis with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles – No. 31
Pitcher
Born: (1992-03-21) March 21, 1992 (age 27)
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 11, 2017, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record2–2
Earned run average5.04
Strikeouts41
Teams

James Allin Yacabonis (born March 21, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Career[edit]

Yacabonis attended Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey. He attended Saint Joseph's University, where he played college baseball for the Saint Joseph's Hawks.[1] He was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB Draft as the 399th pick overall.[2] He signed and spent 2013 with the Aberdeen IronBirds where he was 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA in 29.2 relief innings pitched. In 2014, he pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds and Frederick Keys where he compiled a 1-5 record and 5.03 ERA in 38 games pitched out of the bullpen, and in 2015, he returned to Frederick where he posted a 3-3 record, 4.02 ERA, and 1.71 WHIP in 43 games pitched. Yacabonis spent 2016 with both Frederick and the Bowie BaySox where he was 2-4 with a 2.64 ERA in 50 relief appearances, holding hitters to a .216 batting average against.[3][2] He was promoted to the Norfolk Tides to begin 2017.[4][2][5]

2017[edit]

Yacabonis was called up to the majors for the first time on June 11, 2017.[6] As he "had difficultly finding the strike zone" in his first three June 2017 appearances with the Orioles, he was sent back to Norfolk — where as closer he turned in a 0.93 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. He was recalled from Norfolk on July 2, 2017, likely to work in middle relief during his second call-up for the Orioles.[7] He attributes his success in 2017 to his command of a certain pitch. As he says:[2]

I throw predominantly a two-seam fastball, so I feel like a lot of the time the ball might be looking like it’s a fat pitch and then the late movement out of the zone allows me to get that weak contact or sometimes even a swing through and a miss.

In his first up after being called back from Norfolk, Yacabonis shut down the Milwaukee Brewers on July 3, 2017 for 3.1 innings. He allowed just one run on three hits, striking out two batters — being charged with an earned run on a "ridiculous rundown". Of his contribution in the game after being sent back down, Showalter said, ". . Yac was the key. . . we sent him down to get stretched out a little bit and work on some things, shorten up the breaking ball a little bit, and he presented himself well."

The "rookie reliever" knocked in the only Orioles' run in the 8-1 loss by grounding out to second base, which scored Ruben Tejada from third in the third inning.[8] He was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk the next day.[9] Yacabonis was recalled September 1, 2017,[10] coming in that day in a scoreless game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of 13th inning. He shut down the side to get his first major league win.

2018[edit]

After a strong spring training for Yacabonis, where he posted a 3.38 ERA over eight innings, the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk March 22, 2018 with the possible intent of developing him into a starting pitcher. Yacabonis had refined his mechanics to take stress off his throwing shoulder.[11] Yacabonis was called up from Triple-A Norfolk to cover the Orioles bullpen April 7, 2018, after the previous night's 14-inning game with the Yankees required nine innings of relief pitching.[12] He was sent back down to Triple-A Norfolk on April 8, 2018,[13] with left-handed pitcher Tanner Scott being called up from there. Yacabonis gave up three earned runs in one inning against the Yankees.[14]

Yacabonis was called up from Triple-A Norfolk prior to a May 11 game against Tampa Bay to "provide another bullpen arm" for the four-game series. After being sent down again to work on his command,[15] he was recalled on June 27 and made his first Major League Baseball career start a day later against the Seattle Mariners.[16] Through seven interim starts with disruption in Norfolk, Yacabonis had posted a 1.99 ERA with a 0.884 WHIP. He had a 3.14 ERA overall in Triple-A through that point in the season.[15] He was called up by the Orioles later in the season. He finished the season with a 0-2 record in 7 starts (12 games).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jimmy Yacabonis Stats & Scouting Report - Baseball America". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. ^ a b c d "Orioles prospect Yacabonis talks about his fastball, life as a minor leaguer". Camden Chat. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Yacabonis Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  4. ^ Schmuck, Peter. "Orioles send Alec Asher back to Norfolk, recall Jimmy Yacabonis to fill long-relief role". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  5. ^ Pinter, Brian (2017-04-30). "Baltimore Orioles: Inconsistent pitching leads to unexpected roster moves". The Baltimore Wire. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  6. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. "Orioles pregame: Yacabonis, Verrett join Orioles bullpen; Jackson DFA'd, Crichton optioned". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  7. ^ "Orioles' Jimmy Yacabonis: Rejoins big club". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  8. ^ Meoli, Jon. "Wade Miley allows seven runs in 1 2/3 innings in 8-1 loss to Brewers in first game of road trip". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  9. ^ "Orioles' Jimmy Yacabonis: Returns to minors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  10. ^ "Orioles Designate Tyler Wilson, Logan Verrett". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  11. ^ Encina, Eduardo A. (2018-03-22). "Orioles send Yacabonis to Triple-A with plan to make him a starter". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  12. ^ Meoli, Jon. "Orioles notes: Rasmus to DL; Yacabonis added; Showalter 'moved on' from controversial rundown". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  13. ^ Meoli, Jon. "Orioles notes: Chris Davis sitting Sunday with illness; Tanner Scott added to bullpen". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  14. ^ Staff, RotoWire (2018-05-11). "Orioles' Jimmy Yacabonis: Returns to majors Friday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  15. ^ a b Meoli, Jon. "Jimmy Yacabonis' first Orioles start Thursday a reward for unconventional commitment to his transition". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  16. ^ "Mariners vs. Orioles Preview". mlb.com. Retrieved 2018-06-28.

External links[edit]