Happy pitchers and catchers report a week from Yankees baseball. February 11th is when the New York arms and backstops headed down to Florida for their on-ramp of the spring. Jayvien Sandridge is among the pitchers down in the Sunshine State and will be an interesting evaluation of the 2025 roster selections.
New Yankee Minor Leaguer Could Strengthen the Bullpen Lineup
The Yankees have 26 non-rostered invitational players attending spring training this year. This will be an extreme battle for a spot on the opening day roster.
Amongst the crowd are Yankees top prospects such as Roderick Arias, Chase Hampton, Duke Ellis and more.
Jayvien Sandridge is one of those non-rostered invites. Sandridge was recently signed to a minor league deal with the Yankees. The pitcher has been in professional baseball since 2018, with six minor league seasons under his belt.
Sandridge was drafted in 2018 in the 32nd round. He was picked up 955th overall by the Baltimore Orioles. Since 2018, Sandridge has been a part of three MLB organizations: Baltimore, Cincinnati, and San Diego.
New York is his fourth spot, and his offerings provide projections for him to make the big league roster.
Sandridge’s Numerical Showcase Draws Potential for Advancement to the Big Leagues
The Yankees have been working trial and error for the past two seasons. The back end of their bullpen was in test mode, working different set-up men and closers.
The club is in the process of polishing its staff to be the most effective relief group.
Sandridge has shown the potential to be an effective big-leaguer but has not had the chance. In 2024, Sandridge was promoted to triple-A El Paso with the Padres organization.
Sandridge totaled a 4.28 ERA between double-A and triple-A with a .500 win-loss percentage at a 4-4 split record.
He pitched 61 innings total with 95 strikeouts and 49 walks. His run average per 9 is 4.87, and his HR9 is 1.0, only allowing seven home runs last year. He faced 191 hitters in triple-A alone, with 56 strikeouts.
In his previous season in 2023, Sandridge recorded similar numbers between high-A and double-A. He also finished with a 4-4 record over 63 innings, striking out 91 and walking 51 hitters.
Following this season, he completed a short 6 and 1 / 3 innings pitched in the Arizona Fall League. His final ERA was 1.42, with 13 strikeouts and two walks.
Sandridge showed great consistency and adaptability in the minor leagues. Despite a few flaws, he was projected to be on a major league field during roster expansions.
With a new opportunity in the minor leagues, his campaign to make the cut is as strong as ever.
What Will Yankees Evaluators See in the Left-Hander’s Spring Showcase?
Yankees advanced scouting made their submissions in a positive light, leading to the club making a reasonable investment. The evaluators clearly observed a promising baseline and projectable profile for Sandridge.
The left-handed pitcher has been somewhat compared to former Yankees closer Clay Holmes. The exact comparison isn’t obvious. However, his effectiveness and metrics show workable stuff.
Sandridge can work between 95-96 mph, touching a maximum velocity of 98 mph, well above the minor league velocity average. He works his fastball with tailing action and busts hitters on the inner part of the plate to force a jam.
The fastball is his most used pitch option. The left-hander can severely improve his command. If anything, this is his biggest setback.
Second to the heater is a slider that’s labeled his put-away option. The slider has good vertical movement and misses barrels.
The left-handed pitcher is a 6’5” 220 lbs giant off the bump, working from the stretch, bringing his arm back and working primarily over the top. His delivery generates spin, and the ball is hard to pick up from his hand.
Sandridge has all the qualities worth advancement. He would fit in a long-relief role in the Yankees bullpen and could gel effectively if his command is established.
Main Photo Credits: Allan Henry-Imagn Images
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