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It’s nothing new for Triple-A players to have plenty of Major League experience heading into a season.
This season’s RailRiders roster consists of those who not only have time in the majors but had success with the parent club Yankees.
Second baseman Rob Refsnyder, right-hander Chase Whitley, lefty Bryan Mitchell and catcher Austin Romine all gave New York tough decisions to make during the last week of spring training.
“You can talk about the big leagues and dream about it,” Whitley said. “When you’re there, you find out what it’s all about. (You learn) a lot.”
Of the four, Whitley has had the most success in New York, getting his Major League career off to a brilliant start last May with three starts for the Yankees and posting a 2.57 ERA in those outings. He totaled 12 starts for New York last year, going 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA. During the spring, he was in contention for the fifth starter in the rotation, allowing just two runs in 15 1/3 innings and being one of the team’s final cuts.
“That’s your dream. You get out there and compete and do it at the highest level,” he said. “It’s something no one can take away from you. I proved I can pitch there and proved I can pitch well there.”
Mitchell worked 12 1/3 innings in Major League spring games, allowing nine runs but whiffing 12. That came after he allowed just three runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA) with the Yankees last season in August and September. He was tabbed by manager Dave Miley to start Thursday’s season opener for the RailRiders against Syracuse.
“Obviously I’d rather be up there but I have to prove myself down here and not read too much into those things,” he said. “I just try to control what I can here and try to get better every day.
“I was up there for a while so I know I can pitch up there. Now just try to get back and use the confidence I got while I was up there and try to build up to get back there.”
Romine just cleared waivers on Wednesday after being designated for assignment by the organization earlier in the week and was outrighted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has the most Major League time with the Yankees of any of his four teammates. In parts of three seasons, the catcher has played in 71 games with New York.
Refsyder hasn’t had any experience with the Yankees, but opened up eyes thanks to dazzling spring numbers. He had the highest batting average of any Yankee with at least 40 at-bats during New York’s spring training, hitting .364. He remained with the big league club all camp before learning of his assignment once camp broke.
“It was a great experience being around Major Leagues all camp,” Refsnyder said. “You just see how the veterans kinda prepare, go about their business being in the Major Leagues for 10-plus years. So I took a lot out of it and it’s exciting.”