Yankees call up prospect Chance Adams | What it means

by Felix Pantaleón

The New York Yankees called up pitching prospect Chance Adams on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. (9/12/18) Adams was summoned before a game against the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn.

MINNEAPOLIS — A third Chance.

The Yankees called up Chance Adams for the third — and final — time this season before a game with the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday.

Why he’s here: Yankees manager Aaron Boone will use Adams out of the bullpen, though he’s not going to be there for good. The team moved him to relief for two reasons: They wanted to watch his innings and because they wanted to see if he’d be a viable September/playoff option there. Now, he’ll get an opportunity to prove himself.

Numbers: Since moving to the bullpen for good at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Adams has a 1.42 ERA in four outings, holding hitters to a .227 batting average and a .729 OPS.

Prospect status: MLB.com has him ranked as the team’s No. 13 prospect. He’s had a rough season, partially due to offseason surgery in which he had bone chips removed from his elbow.

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PEN PALS: Yankees relievers have 654K, the third-highest bullpen strikeout total in Major League history… is the second-highest in 2018 to Tampa Bay, which entered Wednesday with 659K in 719.1IP… with 8K, would match the strikeout record of 662K set by Houston relievers in 2017.
>> Have an 11.38 K/9.0IP ratio (654K/517.1IP) this season, and are on pace to break the Major League record of 10.92, set by the 2017 Yankees.

DIDI DOES IT: SS Didi Gregorius tripled and scored in the second inning, then hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, playing a part in all five Yankees runs on Tues. at Minnesota.
>> Marked his third career grand slam (also 4/23/18 vs. Minnesota and 7/1/17 at Houston), tying Frankie Crosetti for the most grand slams by a shortstop in Yankees history… is the first Yankees shortstop to hit multiple grand slams in a single season.
>> Is the second player this season to hit a grand slam and a triple in a game, joining Detroit’s Leonys Martin (4/19 vs. Baltimore)… is the first Yankee to do so since Robinson Cano on 9/15/05 at Tampa Bay.
>> Has 51XBH this season, three shy of his career high (54XBH in 2016)… is his third straight season with at least 50XBH, one of just two shortstops in Yankees history to reach the mark in multiple seasons (Jeter, 7x: 1998-2001, ’04, ’06-07)… all three of his hits since returning from the 10-day D.L. have gone for extra bases (1 double, 1 triple, 1HR).

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Tyler Nunez, a C from Lake Nona HS, is a 6'2 190lb athletic catcher who provides strength with the bat and glove. During BP, Tyler stuck with a middle of the field approach while staying on a line. He impacted the ball well with his compact and direct path, T90EV. He showed off his real athleticism behind the plate by posting a 2.04 pop time while staying around the bag on every throw. He is a good looking athletic uncommitted catcher to keep an eye on.