DETROIT — Before Friday, Tim Mayza was most well-known from a Yankees perspective as the pitcher who gave up Aaron Judge’s 61st home run.
Now, he will get a chance to change that if he can help fortify a bullpen that has shown more cracks of late.
The Yankees called up Mayza from Triple-A on Friday to add a second lefty to their bullpen, a month after signing the former Blue Jays reliever to a minor league deal.
The Yankees called up Tim Mayza. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con“He’s gotten back to a point where he’s throwing the ball like the Tim Mayza we’ve seen most of his career,” manager Aaron Boone said before a 3-0 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. “If that’s the case, then he can be effective.”
The Blue Jays had designated Mayza for assignment after he pitched to an 8.03 ERA in 35 games this season with a dip in velocity.
But upon signing with the Yankees last month, the 32-year-old spent a week in the organization’s pitching lab in Tampa to straighten out his mechanics — he said he had been getting too rotational in his delivery — which has resulted in his fastball velocity coming back to where it was when he had a 1.52 ERA in 69 games in 2023.
“The velocity’s been pretty consistent, definitely up from what it was in Toronto,” Mayza said. “I’m definitely holding in some velocities that I wasn’t seeing earlier in the season.”
In nine games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Mayza posted a 2.16 ERA.
“The videos I’ve been watching of him the last couple weeks, the life’s back on the fastball, he’s got his velocity back,” Boone said. “He’s done some really good work here over the last three, four weeks to earn this opportunity and hopefully carve out a role for himself.”
The promotion of Mayza came as somewhat of a surprise with the likes of Scott Effross, Nick Burdi and Ron Marinaccio waiting for their chance at Triple-A.
But the Yankees had an open spot on their 40-man roster after designating Enyel De Los Santos for assignment and now will get a look at whether Mayza (who has minor league options remaining) can help them down the stretch as another lefty alongside Tim Hill.
The Yankees opted not to call up Scott Effross. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST“Looking forward to being here and contributing any way I can,” Mayza said.
After missing a month with a quad strain, Jose Trevino came off the injured list Thursday to catch Gerrit Cole on Friday and make an immediate impact.
He went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a steal while throwing out one of two attempted base stealers and catching the Yankees’ ninth shutout of the year.
Jose Trevino of the New York Yankees steals second base during the second inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 16, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. Getty Images“Trevy seemed like he didn’t lose a beat,” Cole said. “Hasn’t played at this level in a while, but I thought he was reading swings well and picked some really good pitches.”
Trevino got the start with the Tigers using a lefty as a bulk pitcher, but Boone reiterated that Austin Wells has earned more of the playing time with what he has done offensively.
“But excited to get Trevy back,” Boone said. “He means so much to this team. So he’ll play, but Austin’s certainly earned more of a significant role.”
Oswald Peraza got his first start of the season Friday at third base, two days after he was called up to replace the injured Jazz Chisholm Jr., and delivered a solo home run in the fifth inning
