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TAMPA, Fla. — Justus Sheffield only made one start for Double-A Trenton in 2016.

The 21-year-old southpaw was traded to the New York Yankees on July 31 that season and was assigned to High-A Tampa. But Sheffield quickly pitched his way to Trenton, registering a 3-1 record and 1.75 ERA in five High-A starts.

That was where he met Chance Adams.

Adams was one of the first players Sheffield sat down next to in the Thunder dugout. There was an immediate connection between the two starting pitchers.

Fast forward a year and a half later and Adams and Sheffield are the Yankees’ top-two pitching prospects and are both coming off of their second big-league spring training invites.

“Chance is my dude,” Sheffield said. “(Big-league camp) was good. We’re grateful to have that club up there. I’ve heard of instances where some big leaguers are kind of standoffish or whatever, but everyone in that locker room is literally — it’s a good chemistry in that locker room. You can definitely see why they’re such a good team — not only great players, but great person and attitude.”

For Sheffield, it’s been nice having someone to go through New York’s farm system with.

Coming from Cleveland, this was an organization of brand new faces. And between the end of the 2016 campaign and the first couple of months last season, Adams was someone Sheffield was drawn to.

“It’s good to have a person like Chance to talk baseball with,” Sheffield said. “Going through the same things that I’m going through. Kind of at the same level — he was at Triple-A last year, but we’re kind of at the same time in our lives and with our games. It’s been good to get to know him and he’s going to be great for the next couple of years.”

Then this spring they had lockers next to each other. And CC Sabathia.

Both still working toward their first regular-season start in pinstripes, they took in as much information as possible. With plenty of veterans on the pitching staff, Sheffield and Adams had a large library of knowledge to dig into.

As a fellow southpaw, Sabathia was someone Sheffield could relate to.

Sonny Gray took Adams under his wing, while both Sabathia and Chad Green had an impact.

“For me, for (Sabathia) to make it more comfortable for me, especially with the questions and just talk baseball. You know how CC is. He’s just a great all-around dude,” Sheffield said. “We’re very lucky. I think that’s important. Older veterans should do that, you know?”

“I talked to CC a bit. CC was cool. He gave me a lot of insight,” Adams added. “He’s kind of the big dog in the clubhouse. Shows you how to go about your business professionally. Stuff like that.”

While their results weren’t what they wanted — Sheffield sported an 11.81 ERA while Adams’ was 11.57 — the pair still made the most of their time with the Yankees, and because of it look forward to strong starts to the season.

Sheffield was able to work on his slider, throwing it “back-door, back-foot” while Adams tried to “get better and focus on the season.”

“I’m just going out and doing my work — doing what I can and ready for the season to start,” Adams said.

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild came away pleased with his two young guns.

Sheffield lived up to the bill while Adams struggled with arm strength, but should be fine in the long run.

“I think Justus showed the kind of stuff you’d expect to see,” Rothschild said. “(Adams will) catch up arm-wise and he’s healthy. That’s the important thing. He just needs to get down there and get some repetition and kind of take the pressure off and let him just get back to throwing the ball the way he can.”

One thing is clear.

The two have bright futures ahead of them. One that possible includes them leading the RailRiders staff on a potential postseason run.

“It’s going to be fun and I’m excited for the season to get going,” Adams said.

New York Yankees pitching prospect Justus Sheffield looks on during Sunday’s spring training game between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Buffalo Bisons at the New York Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Justus-Sheffield2018318174945267.jpg.optimal.jpgNew York Yankees pitching prospect Justus Sheffield looks on during Sunday’s spring training game between the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Buffalo Bisons at the New York Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. Michele Rochford | Times Leader

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders starting pitcher Chance Adams talks to the media prior to Sunday’s spring training game against the Buffalo Bisons at the New York Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Chance-Adams-22018318174946358.jpg.optimal.jpgScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders starting pitcher Chance Adams talks to the media prior to Sunday’s spring training game against the Buffalo Bisons at the New York Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. Michele Rochford | Times Leader
Top prospects leaning on vets this spring

By DJ Eberle

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