Yankees rookie reliever Ron Marinaccio feeling healthy as he works his way back
Yankees relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio delivers against the Orioles during the sixth inning of an MLB game at Yankee Stadium on May 25. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
One inning of work for Double-A Somerset on Friday night was all Ron Marinaccio needed to proclaim what appeared evident through his dominance.
The rookie reliever feels ready to return to the mound for the Yankees.
“Absolutely,” Marinaccio said after striking out the side in a rehab appearance following his stint on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. “I felt like that after my last one in Scranton. I think it was just getting my arm back to healthy, 100%.”
Resurgence in his fastball was a prime indicator of optimal form for Marinaccio.
“It was starting to lose a little bit of the profile the last few outings in the big leagues,” Marinaccio said. “I think that had a little bit to do with the shoulder fatigue, so to see the fastball play the way it was playing for me at the beginning of the year was a good sign for me to feel like I’m ready to get back.”
Marinaccio, 26, impressed throughout the regular season after making the Opening Day roster. He went 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings pitched, including 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings before being placed on the IL.
Aside from working through some anticipated rust, Marinaccio is pleased with the progress he’s made during rehab.
“Shoulder’s feeling really good,” Marinaccio said. “It’s been a bit since I’ve had to think about it, so I think that’s when you realize you’re starting to get back to 100% is when it’s not even in the back of your mind anymore.
“So health is good, still shaking off some rust, felt really good with the changeup tonight. Slider, I didn’t get to it too much, but you saw me pull a fastball into the backstop so still shaking off some rust here and there. But overall, feeling healthy and really good.”
After immediately establishing himself as a reliable option, Marinaccio is quite thrilled at the prospect of soon returning to the Yankees, who entered Saturday with the best record in the major leagues.
“It’s exciting,” Marinaccio said. “It’s an exciting team to play for this year. Everybody’s seen it. It’s kind of that feeling in the clubhouse every night that we’re going to go out and win the game. So it’s fun to be in that environment.”
