The San Francisco Giants selected Phil Bickford in the first round of the 2015 draft; he was signed by the team to a minor league contract on Tuesday.
Bickford, who is 28 years old, has a 4.43 ERA after 180.2 innings pitched in Major League Baseball. Between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets, he pitched 67.1 innings in the previous season, recording a 4.95 ERA, 10.16 strikeouts per nine, 67.2% left on base, and a 27.9% ground ball rate.
While he has struggled to control his walk rates, he has excelled in the home run category, allowing just 1.07 per nine.
The Yankees Recognized Bickford’s Worth
Bickford experiments with a change-up and uses a slider and four-seamer. He depends on a fastball and slider combination, reaching 93.7 mph, just as Matt Blake likes.
It’s interesting to note that last season’s opposition hitters only batted.183 against his four-seamer, a fantastic figure that implies there may be more to come.
His slider was less successful, producing movement that was roughly league average and a batting average of.325.
But compared to average, his fastball produced 15.4 inches of drop and 6% greater vertical movement, indicating that Blake might try to capitalize on that particular pitch.
He might attempt to add a sweeper to his repertoire because his slider hasn’t been very effective. The Yankees have concentrated on strengthening their weaknesses and utilizing their strengths.
The Bombers are constantly searching for quick-hitting relievers, and Bickford might be a valuable asset who can contribute this season if necessary.c
