The New York Yankees have some things to figure out when it comes to their bullpen entering the 2022 season.
But manager Aaron Boone seems to have a little clarity on the situation.
Boone had been asked about 26-year-old reliever Michael King and his status with the team as the season draws closer.
Boone expressed faith in the young right-hander, saying that he believes King will in fact be on the big-league roster to start 2022.
Boone also stated that he is considering a 15 or 16-man pitching staff to begin the season, as slightly expanded rosters are permitted due to the length of the lockout and the shortened spring training.
“I look at Michael (King) as on the team,” said Aaron Boone, who is considering a 15 or 16 man pitching staff to begin the year.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 31, 2022
King Looking To Prove Himself
2021 was King’s first full season in the major leagues.
He had appeared in one game during the 2019 season, which was his major league debut, but he didn’t see much action until 2020, a season that was shortened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That year, King went 1-2 with a poor 7.76 ERA in nine appearances, four of which were starts.
But King reinvented himself in 2021.
Despite a 2-4 record, he pitched to a respectable 3.55 ERA in 22 games, six of them being starts.
So, assuming he can stay on the right track, King should be a solid addition to the Yankees’ bullpen as the season begins.
Beyond Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green, and Jonathan Loaisiga, there are question marks in New York’s bullpen.
If King pitches like he did in 2021, he should be a viable piece out of the Yankees’ pen.
We’ll see if he can replicate his success from a year ago.
If he’s right, the Yankees’ bullpen will have a little more stability in 2022.
That will be the X-factor for the team this year.
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