TAMPA — The Yankees already have an off-the-radar, non-roster contender to win a bullpen spot this spring.
Their next Ian Hamilton might be a hard throwing but often-injured righty who joined the organization last December on a minor-league contract.
Nick Burdi, 31, sure opened eyes throwing to hitters during Saturday’s spring training practice.
“Really impressive,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “We know he’s had tantalizing stuff.”
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Burdi’s fastball averaged 98 mph in his last two big-league seasons and it might not be his best pitch. His slider is elite, too.
For years, Blake has been intrigued with both Burdi and his younger brother, Zack, a free agent righty.
Both were high draft picks out of Louisville, Nick a second-rounder in 2014 by the Twins and Zack a first-rounder in 2016 by the White Sox.
Both have big-league experience for multiple clubs and appeared in three games last season, Nick for the Cubs and Zack for the Rays.
Neither has panned out due to a lot of injuries.
“I know the Burdi brothers,” Blake said “I’ve seen them over the years. They’ve got a track record of being notable because of how hard they threw. It’s just both of them have had a hard time staying on the field.”
Maybe 2024 finally will be a breakout year for Nick, who has had two Tommy John surgeries, a thoracic outlet surgery and missed time last season recovering from an appendectomy.
Burdi has no current health issues, but the Yankees might want to knock on wood that it stays that way because he has ability to be a high-leverage, late-inning arm. He’s struck out 27 over 15.1 innings in 19 career big-league outings and whiffed 191 in 136 minor-league innings.
Burdi perhaps could turn into another Hamilton, who changed organizations four times and endured a lot of injury pitfalls before signing a minor-league with the Yankees in January 2023 and then having a standout rookie season.
“Last year he dropped…
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