Jake Bird's Nasty Stuff Eyes Yankees Bullpen Spot

Jake Bird is striving to earn a place in the New York Yankees' bullpen following a challenging previous season. After being traded at the deadline, he experienced a brief stint before being sent to Triple-A. However, Bird has shown promising signs in spring training, impressing manager Aaron Boone with his 'nasty stuff' and effective bullpens.

Bird's repertoire includes a sinker that reaches 97 mph, complemented by a sweeper and curveball that generate significant whiffs. Pitching coach Matt Blake has noted Bird's unique pitch shapes and velocity. Bird acknowledges that adjusting his pitches due to atmospheric conditions in Colorado impacted his performance at home, and he anticipates improved consistency pitching away from Coors Field.

He spent only five days with the Yankees last year, struggling significantly in three relief appearances. Following a particularly rough outing where he surrendered a walk-off home run, Bird was demoted. He has since worked closely with the Yankees' pitching department and studied other relievers' transitions to the bullpen, aiming to fulfill the team's expectations.