The Yankees have compiled one of the hardest-throwing bullpens in history, and despite the high cost of most of the arms, they didn’t have to go far to learn about two of them.
Having reached a deal with free agent right-hander Adam Ottavino this week, the Yankees now have a pair of New York City native relievers, whose history goes back well over a decade.
Ottavino and Dellin Betances grew up in the city, went to high school in Brooklyn and played for the same summer league program.
“It’s very unusual,” said Mel Zitter, who coached both Ottavino and Betances when they were with Youth Service League, one of the top summer programs in the area. “Two guys from the same city wind up in the same bullpen in that city. And they’re two of the best.”
Ottavino, 33, played his high school ball at Berkeley Carroll. He graduated in 2003 before spending three seasons at Northeastern University in Boston, where he developed into a first-round pick for the Cardinals in the 2006 draft.
Betances, 30, committed to Vanderbilt out of Grand Street Campus before the Yankees swooped in and grabbed him in the eighth round of the same draft. They gave Betances first-round money to change his mind about going to college.
Cesar Presbott, a scout for the Yankees since 1982, signed Betances and also saw Ottavino in high school.
“Betances is without a doubt the best I’ve seen from here with his arm and his size,’’ Presbott said. “He projected very well and he had a great work ethic. [Ottavino] didn’t have the same arm as Dellin in high school, but he was very mature. He understood how to pitch.”
Presbott, who worked for the Phillies before joining the Yankees organization, couldn’t come up with a New York City pitcher who has had a better career than the two since he’s been with the Yankees.
“I liked both of them, but you never know how they’re going to turn out in the majors,’’ Presbott said.
Other New York City pitchers have thrived, including Jason Marquis, a first-rounder out of Tottenville in 1996 who had solid seasons with the Braves and Cardinals, as well as Steve Karsay, a 1990 first-round pick from Christ the King in 1990 who went on to be a key bullpen piece on playoff teams in Cleveland, Atlanta and The Bronx.
More recently, though, Betances and Ottavino have been the standouts. Zitter, who is still involved in YSL, noted other similarities between the two.
“They have great baseball bodies, good arms, a similar work ethic and a love for baseball,’’ Zitter said of the pair, who played many games at the Parade Grounds near Prospect Park and the American Legion fields in Canarsie. “They checked all the boxes.’’
Both are converted starters who eventually thrived in their roles out of the pen.
“Each had their struggles at times in the beginning of their careers, but going to the bullpen helped both of them,’’ Zitter said. “They had the tools and the desire. They just needed to be put in the right situation, which is what happened when they became relief pitchers.”
Now, they have a chance to work together in The Bronx.
“I’m very proud to have had them play for me,’’ Zitter said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do together.”
