The Yankees have signed right-hander Dylan Coleman to a minor league contract, according to his MLB.com profile page. While the details of the contract, including an invitation to New York's Major League spring camp, are not specified, Coleman's recent performance has been a cause for concern. In 2022, he posted a 2.78 ERA, 24.6% strikeout rate, and 12.8% walk rate while pitching for the Royals bullpen. However, in 2023, his ERA skyrocketed to 8.84, and his walk rate ballooned to 19.8%, with a strikeout rate of 21.9K%.
Kansas City traded Coleman to the Astros during the 2023-24 offseason, and he struggled in his brief time with Houston, pitching just one inning before being released in August. Coleman's most recent minor league deal with the Orioles also ended in disappointment, as he posted a 4.91 ERA over 14 2/3 innings, with as many walks (14) as strikeouts, leading to his release in May. Since then, he has been working on his mechanics with the Feole Pitching training workshop, adding a cutter and power sinker to his repertoire, and his fastball velocity has increased to 100 mph.
Any team would be intrigued by triple-digit fastball velocity, and the Yankees are taking a chance by giving Coleman a first-hand look. While his mechanical improvements are promising, the team must also address his control issues, which have been a persistent problem in recent years. It remains to be seen if these fixes will translate to better performance on the mound. The Yankees' decision to sign Coleman to a minor league contract is a calculated risk, and the team will be closely monitoring his progress as he attempts to regain his former glory.
