TAMPA — Adam Ottavino’s signature slider was on display Thursday, when the right-hander worked a simulated game on Field 2 at the Yankees’ spring training facility.
Signed to a three-year, $27 million deal after leaving the Rockies as a free agent, the Brooklyn native faced four batters and blew them all away. The Berkeley Carroll grad struck out Tyler Wade twice and Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres once each.
“It’s not as bad to me, being a left-handed hitter. I can only imagine being a right-handed hitter,” Wade said of Ottavino’s filthy slider. “There is nothing to compare it to. You see it on the highlights, but it is better by a lot. It’s only going to get better and crisper.”
Torres was not only impressed with the action on the slider but Ottavino’s ability to locate it.
“It’s nasty, really good,” the right-handed hitting Torres said. “He has really good command.”
The Yankees allowed David Robertson, who turns 34 in early April, to leave for the Phillies and a two-year deal worth $23 million despite his proving he can pitch in The Bronx and replaced him with Ottavino, who is 33.
With Aroldis Chapman to close and Dellin Betances and Zack Britton to work in front of Chapman, Ottavino and Chad Green can be used in multiple spots in what is expected to be the best bullpen in baseball.
“You know when you are watching from behind [the screen] and knowing as a right-handed hitter that is not a fun at-bat,” Aaron Boone said. “When he executes, you kind of like are not even upset when you are out. You are just glad it’s over with.”
Asked if there was a right-hander with a similarly filthy slider, Boone mentioned former Yankee Jeff Nelson, who dropped down to get more action on the biting slider.
“With Otto, he can shape it a couple of different ways,” Boone said of Ottavino, who used the slider to fan 112 in 77 ²/₃ innings last year and also mixes in a cut fastball. “He has a really good sense of [keeping] it shorter, and he can throw the one that really breaks across the plate. The deception and the angles makes it very difficult for hitters to pick it up.”
