Yankees’ Jonathan Loaisiga reacts to ‘young Mariano Rivera’ comparison

Yankees rookie pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga was up late thinking about his whirlwind Friday, then he got humbling news on Saturday about being compared to an all-time great.

NEW YORK — Yankees rookie pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga didn’t want one of the best days of his young life to end.

After pitching five shutout innings and winning his major league debut on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, the 23-year-old right-hander had a great time “sharing the moment” with family and friends via phone calls back home to Nicaragua.

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And then after hitting the sack in his Manhattan hotel room, Loaisiga laid there in his bed thinking and thinking and thinking about everything that went down before and during the Yankees’ 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It took me some time to fall asleep processing everything that happened,” Loaisiga said Saturday before the Yankees-Rays’ game. “Getting to the big leagues, getting my first start, getting my first win … it took me a little bit to process a lot information.”

Loaisiga had something else to process while he was meeting with reporters before Saturday’s game.

That’s when he was told that Rays manager Kevin Cash said that he “looks like a young Mariano Rivera” on the mound.

“That’s a big compliment right there,” Loaisiga said. “Mariano was one of the best all-time in this sport. It’s humbling for (Cash) to say like that.”

Cash first made the comparison to the Yankees great during Friday’s game in a comment to Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo, then he repeated it during his post-game presser.

So what does Cash see from Loaisiga that reminds him of baseball’s all-time saves leader?

“Just his mannerisms on the mound, the way he’s built … all of those things,” Cash said. “Don’t give (the Yankees) any ideas, though. (Loaisiga) doesn’t need to be pitching in the ninth inning anytime soon!”

A 5-foot-11, 165 pounder, Loaisiga does somewhat resemble Rivera.

Both were in Yankees’ spring training this year, but Loaisiga’s stint in big-league camp ended before Rivera arrived for his part-time guest instructor duties.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet,” Loaisiga said.

He does remember watching Rivera, who retired after the 2013 season.

“Of course,” he said.

Loaisiga’s debut was pretty special, as he double-jumped from Double-A Trenton to the big leagues and then blanked the Rays on three hits and four walks while striking out six in a 91-pitch outing.

Did Yankees manager Aaron Boone see any Rivera in Loaisiga?

“I’m not going to get into those comparisons,” Boone said. “I thought (Loaisiga) did really well. I thought he handled himself really well. Really the only blip was the four walks, which is uncharacteristic for him.

“But I think it wasn’t a case of him being wild or anything. I think it was just a case of him maybe going for some chase pitches that in the minor leagues tend to get chases whereas up here (hitters) are a little bit more disciplined.

“All in all I thought any time he did walk a guy – like in that fourth inning when he got in some trouble – he made a really big pitch when he needed to. And even though I thought he tired a lot in the fifth, he was still able to have a clean inning there.

“I’m just really proud of his effort. I know he’s really excited about it. He had a smile on his face this morning. I’m just happy for him to come up here.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.