Prospect Profile: Dellin Betances

Just because Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy are in the majors now doesn’t mean the Yankees don’t have any intriguing prospects left in the minors. One of the most exciting, although relatively unknown, prospects left in the Yankees minor league system is SP Dellin Betances. Betances, a 19 year old right hander measuring in at a staggering 6’9 and 215 lbs, was selected by the Yankees in the 8^th round of the 2006 draft out of high school. Betances turned heads immediately after being drafted, while making his pro debut in the Yankee Gulf Coast League team, posting a 1.16 ERA and 27 K’s in a short sampling of 23.1 innings. Betances opened the 2007 campaign with the Single A Staten Island Yankees, finishing with a solid yet somewhat unspectacular 1-2 record and 3.60 ERA. The strikeouts were still there (29 in 25 innings) but his control faltered as he walked 17 batters. Betances’ battled an inflamed right elbow and did not pitch many innings due to the shorter season in the New York- Penn League.

Dellin Betances right now is a 3 pitch pitcher, fastball, curveball, and changeup. Betances got through his high school pitching career mostly on the strength of his fastball, which is clocked consistently between 93-97 and as high as 98. The strength of this fastball helped him post a Senior year in high school in which he pitched 40 IP and recorded over 100 K’s. Betances only developed his curveball and changeup after entering Yankees camp, one of the reasons he fell to the Yankees in the 8^th round. Like many tall pitchers, Betances still has some trouble repeating his delivery, which likely effected his control and caused all those walks in Staten Island. Due to the fact that he is still only 19 years old and with the young pitching depth ahead of him, the Yankees will likely be very patient bringing Betances through the system, but a start of the 2008 season with Single A Tampa, a full season league, seems likely. A fast start could propel Betances through the system in Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy fashion, but unless he further develops his secondary pitches and can master his pitching motion, a future in the bullpen may be a possibility. Don’t expect to see Betances with the big club any sooner then 2009 at the absolute earliest.