In a surprising move, the New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Dylan Coleman, as reported through his profile on MLB.com. However, details regarding whether this agreement includes an invitation to participate in New York’s Major League spring training camp have not been disclosed.
Dylan Coleman had a noteworthy stint with the Kansas City Royals, where he pitched 68 out of his total 93 and two-thirds innings in the major leagues during the 2022 season. His performance was quite impressive, featuring a solid 2.78 ERA, along with a strikeout rate of 24.6% and a walk rate of 12.8%. But here’s where it gets controversial: his stats took a significant downturn in 2023. Coleman’s ERA skyrocketed to 8.84, and his walk rate surged dramatically to 19.8%, overshadowing his already concerning strikeout percentage of just 21.9%.
Following this challenging season, Coleman found himself traded to the Houston Astros during the offseason of 2023-24. Unfortunately, his time with the Astros was brief; he managed to pitch only one inning in the majors before being released in August. This marked his last appearance in Major League Baseball, as a subsequent minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles ended in more struggles. In the Orioles’ farm system, Coleman registered a 4.91 ERA over 14 and two-thirds innings, striking out 14 batters while walking the same number, leading to his release in May.
Since then, Coleman has been diligently working on refining his pitching mechanics at the Feole Pitching training workshop. Recently, a post on Feole’s Instagram showcased Coleman’s progress, revealing that he has incorporated a cutter and a powerful sinker into his pitching arsenal, while also increasing his fastball velocity up to an impressive 100 mph. It’s worth noting that when he first debuted with the Royals in 2021, Coleman averaged over 98 mph on his fastball, but by 2023, that speed had dropped to 95.2 mph.
The prospect of a pitcher consistently reaching triple digits on the radar gun is enticing for any team, including the Yankees. They face minimal risk in evaluating the newly revamped Coleman, as they can also contribute their own expertise in pitching development to enhance his skills. However, it’s crucial to remember that even the most potent pitches won’t be effective if a pitcher struggles with control. The pressing question remains: will Coleman’s hard work lead to improvements in the alarming control issues that have plagued him for the past few seasons?
What do you think? Can Coleman turn his career around with these adjustments, or are his struggles indicative of deeper issues? Share your thoughts!
