The Yankees announced today that they have selected the contract of lefty Ryan Bollinger. He will be added to the active roster for tonight’s game.
A corresponding 40-man move is not necessary, as the Yankees had an open spot still available. The club still has plenty of flexibility for the time being, as several players currently on the 10-day DL could potentially be shifted to the 60-day DL should a need arise.
Bollinger will make it to the majors about nine years after he was taken in the 47th round of the 2009 draft by the Phillies. He never pitched with the Philadelphia organization, but did spend three seasons in the low minors with the White Sox beginning in 2011.
For the past three seasons, Bollinger has pitched outside of the affiliated ranks, making several indy ball stops and appearing last year in the Australian Baseball League. River Ave. Blues covered his unheralded signing, providing a video of Bollinger pitching in Germany and rightly noting: “Would be something if this guy made it, huh?” Indeed.
Since joining the Yankees organization over the offseason, Bollinger has worked as a starter in the upper minors. In 29 innings, he owns a 1.86 ERA with 6.2 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9. It seems reasonable to presume that the 27-year-old will join the Yankees’ bullpen upon his arrival. It remains to be seen, though, how long he’ll hold onto his active and 40-man roster spots.
velorum
Who are they sending down, Gallegos or something? (Please be Gallegos)
bronxforthewin
Probably
MB923
Gallegos was sent down last night after the game.
velorum
Ah.
letsplay2
Read the article !
bronxforthewin
Come on Yankees…Let’s keep it on! Hope Bollinger can do something to impress us
walls17
he is going to be DFA’d on friday when kahnle is back
hooligan
for a split second i though ryan rohlinger was back lol
driftcat28 2
Hmm wonder what the point of this move is
Adam6710
Depth and a roll of the dice after a bullpen heavy game, and another bad start from German. Could provide multiple innings if a starter struggles over the next week, and if he performs well might even get German’s next start.
southbeachbully
I think the Yanks need to see past the last two bad outings of German. He simply suffered from 10 days off IMO. But Yanks need to see what they have in German, especially since Sabathia probably won’t be back next year imo.
chino31
Pretty sure Corbin will be taking CCs spot next year.
sheff86
Next year,I see…
Severino
Tanaka
Corbin
Gray
CC
xabial
“In 2017, Bollinger traveled to Germany, suiting up for Munich-Haar of the Bundesliga. That led to an opportunity with Brisbane of the Australian Baseball League, where he was 5-1 with a 3.48 ERA in nine starts, leading his club to a regular season and championship. That effort — particularly his 75K against 12 walks in 54 1/3 innings — drew the Yankees’ attention. Bollinger signed a Minor League contract with New York prior to 2018 campaign.”
“I was playing overseas, and I just got lucky that somebody saw me,” Bollinger recently told NJ Advance Media. “I got a contract offer, and here I am. There was always that thought [to come back to the United States], but I was just going over there to enjoy baseball again, and have a good time playing.” mlb.com/news/ryan-bollinger-took-long-way-to-get-t…
Sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. I’ll be rooting for him!
You are wrong
I’m not sure you know what “monopoly” means.
xabial
I’m personally hoping he experiences success and this opens door for more European prospects. (Didn’t even know Australia had a baseball league! Cool stuff
You are wrong
Well, he’s from Minnesota. So, he’s not a “European prospect”.
xabial
He played in Europe– Germany, Australia last couple of years before (hopefully) making his MLB debut, some time soon.
I want those leagues to get some legitimacy. I know Japan’s at the near-top right now, with regards to talent, and MLB players. But I’ve never heard of someone making a legitimate impact, hailing from European baseball leagues.
Can we chalk this one up to “minor semantics” look at the big picture?
GareBear
Australia has a large baseball following and a pretty decent league. Also Max Kepler of the Twins is a legitimate European prospect
You are wrong
Lutz w/ Reds also German, Martin Gasparinni signed with KC out of Italy, MLB runs academy in Europe to grow the game and cultivate talent. Gift Ngoepe is from Africa for crying out loud, several players hail from Australia, and many prospects and others play in the Australian Winter League every year. So instead of chalking it up to “minor semantics” perhaps we should chalk it up to “pure ignorance”? Just because you haven’t heard of something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Anyway, my original point was saying that 15-20 different countries somehow share a monopoly kind of flies in the face of what “monopoly” means.
klattsy
Xabial, our league runs after the WS Nov to Jan. You can catch replays of the games in full on YouTube include Ryan’s games for the Brisbane Bandits.
klattsy
Ryan was absolutely outstanding for us in Brisbane. Attacks batters and struck out a ton of guys. Tied for league lead in Ks with recent Phillies signee Josh Tols. K’d more than ex Twins arm Mark Hamburger and ex journeyman Aussie Travis Blackley. His ERA was higher than others because he played his home games in a hitters park. It was 2.81 away. Absolutely decimated the German league. Even won the HR Derby there!
MetsYankeesRedSox
Hope to see this young mans name in the boxscore. He’s paid his dues. Like how Phillies drafted him and he J D Drewed them.
xabial
“JD Drewed them”?
Bollinger was drafted by Phillies in the 47th round of 2009 draft, but did not sign.
Excerpt from Jeff’s link: (RAV on Bollinger)
“He spent 2010 in an independent league, 2011-13 in the White Sox system, 2014-16 in independent leagues, 2017 in Germany, offseason in Australia.”
Sounds like he more than “paid his dues”. JD Drew was second overall pick, and declined to sign because the Phillies’ $2.6 million offer didn’t comply with his agent’s (Scott Bora.ss) $10m demands. Lol the two are nothing alike, although I’m sure he’d be ecctatic with JD Drew’s career. JD Drew was drafted 1st round and got $7m next year,
MetsYankeesRedSox
True! No comparison between the two. Didn’t mean to imply that. Just funny how players turn their nose up at the Phillies. I guess to be more accurate the saying should be he “Curt Flooded” the Phillies. But I know, no comparison.
Was hoping Bollinger would get a chance in last night’s pitching horror show.
Macho King OG
We could use an Aaron Small this year.