The New York Yankees converted catching prospect Antonio Gomez to the mound, and he’s already touching 100 mph on the radar gun.
The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty broke the news Friday about the 23-year-old’s position switch. Gomez was struggling at Double-A Somerset, hitting just .140, when the organization decided to capitalize on what’s always been his best tool.
His arm.
The Yankees moved Gomez from behind the plate to the pitcher’s mound, where that cannon he used to gun down base stealers can now overpower hitters. He’s currently throwing bullpen sessions and should see game action soon.
“Really good arm. Really good athlete,” Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake told The Athletic. “I think what the guys are excited about is the potential upside for a guy like that, who’s got some arm strength and has shown it behind the plate. To have the aptitude back there and then try it out on the mound.”
It’s not uncommon for catchers to make this transition – they’ve got the arm strength and game awareness that translates well to pitching. What’s eye-opening is how quickly Gomez reached triple digits.
The Yankees are betting that the same arm that made him valuable defensively can now keep opposing batters off balance. Sometimes a change of scenery – even if it’s just 60 feet, 6 inches away – makes all the difference.
Now Gomez hopes to hold opponents to the kind of low batting average he was posting himself. The difference is, on the mound, that’s exactly what you want.
