TAMPA — As Angel Chivilli hung at a buddy’s home in his native Dominican Republic on Jan. 27, a late-night cellphone name interrupted their sport of dominoes.
When the reliever answered, his agent instructed him that there was a robust likelihood he can be traded by the Rockies quickly. Naturally, Chivilli needed to know who was serious about his providers.
He was shocked to study that it was the Yankees, who formally acquired the 23-year-old after they despatched minor league first baseman T.J. Rumfield to Colorado the next day.
“When you concentrate on the chance of coming to such a workforce because the New York Yankees, the historical past behind the workforce,” Chivilli mentioned. “Seeing {that a} workforce like that’s keen to present me an opportunity to return in right here, be part of this workforce, it felt superb.”
Chivilli was additionally shocked to study that the Yankees had focused him previously.
Following the commerce, Brian Cashman mentioned that he had spoken to the Rockies’ earlier regime, led by Invoice Schmidt, about Chivilli. The overall supervisor circled again when Paul DePodesta took over in Colorado this offseason.
The query is why the Yankees have been within the right-hander, as Chivilli had a 7.06 ERA, allowed 2.0 HR/9 and totaled only a 15.6% strikeout price in 2025. And with a 6.18 ERA over 73 video games since debuting with the Rockies in 2024, Chivilli’s normal stats aren’t precisely alluring.
However he’s now escaping the unfriendly confines of Coors Discipline, and he’s bringing with him a fastball that averaged 97.1 mph, adequate for the 88th percentile, in 2025. Chivilli’s arsenal additionally features a slider and a changeup, which yielded whiff charges of 45.5% and 42.6%, respectively.
With these instruments in place — he additionally had a 49.8 groundball proportion final yr — the Yankees imagine that their pitching division can mould Chivilli into a greater reliever than he was in Colorado.
“He’s acquired two actually good offspeed pitches,” Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake mentioned. “What’s the brink for the way we make the most of these? Is there something we are able to do with the fastball? It acquired hit somewhat bit final yr, however finally, we gotta management the strike zone, after which get miss. So we’re discovering avenues to do this.”
That course of started shortly after the commerce, as assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne mentioned that Chivilli threw for Brett DeGagne, the Yankees’ minor league pitching coordinator, on the workforce’s advanced within the Dominican Republic shortly after he was acquired.
Claiborne added that the Yankees haven’t made any wholesale modifications to Chivilli’s sport simply but, as they’re nonetheless studying him, and vice versa.
“There may be one thing down the road, however clearly he got here in with two big-time swing-and-miss pitches,” Claiborne mentioned, echoing Blake’s scouting report.
Aaron Boone did as effectively whereas highlighting Chivilli’s athleticism after watching him throw reside batting apply on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the supervisor famous that the pitcher’s command remains to be coming alongside; Boone is hoping that the Yankees’ catchers can help Chivilli along with his focusing on.
“We expect we may also help him get higher, as a result of he’s acquired lots of expertise,” Boone concluded.
If that doesn’t occur immediately, Chivilli has a minor league choice and only a yr of service time. Which means the Yankees could make him a longer-term undertaking if crucial.
But when Chivilli could make strides this spring, he can have an opportunity to make the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen, which has a couple of spots up for grabs with another fliers in camp. That’s his hope as he tries to make good on the Yankees’ prolonged curiosity in him.
“It’s thrilling,” he mentioned of the chance, “as a result of on the finish of the day, it tells you that you’ve got the potential to be a great piece for this workforce.”
