Hard-throwing Yankees prospect Luis Medina gets advice from Aroldis Chapman

Featuring a fastball that occasionally registers in triple-digits — even as high as 103 mph — Yankees righthanded starting pitching prospect Luis Medina has shown flashes of immensely rare talent reminiscent of closer Aroldis Chapman.

And when Medina recently had an opportunity to work alongside Chapman at Double-A Somerset as the Yankee rehabbed from left Achilles tendinitis, the hard-throwing lefthander — renowned for his physique — offered the 6-1, 175-pound Medina a piece of advice.

“Chapman’s an excellent person and I learned from him that I need to work hard on my body,” Medina said on Thursday. “He was very specific that working on my body will help me become a better pitcher, and that’s something that I’ve been doing.”

Medina, 23, signed with the Yankees as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in July 2015. He began throwing 100 mph as a 16-year-old only a month earlier, according to mlb.com, which ranks him as the No. 11 prospect in the organization. Medina also possesses a curveball in the low 80s and a changeup that remains in the 90-mph range.

But issues with command have accompanied Medina’s lively arm throughout his career. He is 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 61 1⁄3 innings, but his control issues resurfaced on July 2 when Medina allowed five walks, two hits and five earned runs in 2 2⁄3 innings. On Friday night, he allowed two runs and four hits in 4 2⁄3 innings and walked four.

Despite the recent struggles, Medina said he’s pleased with the progress he’s made in controlling the strike zone and cutting down on walks. He has allowed 37 this season.

“At the beginning of the year, I was having some issues, but it was mostly because I couldn’t prepare myself properly because of the lockout,” Medina said. I wasn’t able to train with the team, but since then I’ve been able to prepare myself and do better, working with my legs. And I think I’ve had better results as time has gone on.”

Somerset pitching coach Gerardo Casadiego said honing Medina’s changeup, as opposed to his electric fastball, has been their greatest focus in his development.

“We’re trying to get him to throw more changeups,” Casadiego said. “We went back to the 2019 season where his changeup was his reset pitch and the one he threw for strikes the most. We’re just trying to get back to it and it’s a pitch that’s been really good for him this year.”

Casadiego believes Medina’s arm talent eventually could turn him into a household name.

“He has the potential to be a No. 1 starter in the big leagues,” Casadiego said. “He has three pitches that if he can consistently throw for strikes are above major league-average, especially his fastball. He’s a special talent.”