The Yankees top prospect, RHP Deivi Garcia will move to the bullpen for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders for the rest of the season according to Conor Foley of The Times-Tribune in Scranton.
Foley noted that the Yankees have made similar moves like this last season with RHP Chance Adams and LHP Justus Sheffield. This was in preparation for the end of season roles that each player was going to have with the team. Adams pitched in three games last season, going 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA. While Sheffield also pitched in three games, throwing just 2.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits.
Garcia, the No. 64 prospect in the MLB, has struggled in his two most recent starts. He failed to make it through the fifth inning in either game, and allowed two runs in both match-ups. He struck out a total of nine batters and walked four over 8.1 combined innings of work.
The righty was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 16, and had Yankees manager Aaron Boone speaking highly of him after just one start.
"It was a good first Triple-A start. He had a presence," Boone said. "It wasn't as dominant as we've seen in some of his outings, but I think it was a very good first showing in Triple-A."
Boone and the RailRiders still see Garcia's potential, as he could be a part of the Yankees bullpen for the post-season push. Garcia posted a 4-4 record for the Double-A Trenton Thunder this season with a 3.86 ERA over 53.2 innings. He currently is 1-3 with a 5.01 ERA over 32.1 innings of work for the Triple-A RailRiders since being promoted.
The Yankees have until 11:59 p.m. on August 31 to add the 20-year-old Garcia to the 40-man roster, or else he will be designated for assignment.