Jonathan Loaisiga, the slowest pitcher in baseball last season when nobody was on base, is leaving spring training to play in the World Baseball Classic.
Despite the pitch clock being introduced, Loaisiga and the Yankees are encouraged by his performance in camp.
He struggled in the first half of last season but finished strong with a 1.76 ERA over his final 31 games, making him one of the few relievers Boone could trust in the postseason.
The Yankees rely on Loaisiga to be one of their go-to arms for high-leverage spots in the late innings this season.
Loaisiga has tweaked his in-between-pitch routine to abide by the 15-second timer, cutting a bit of the pre-preparation between pitches.
He will play for Team Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic and is scheduled to leave the Yankees on Thursday to join his team in Miami.
Leaving spring training for the WBC comes with a certain level of concern, especially for pitchers as they try to stay healthy for the start of the regular season.
However, Loaisiga believes the tournament has put him in a good spot after beginning his offseason training earlier. He is one of only two players on the Nicaraguan team on a 40-man roster, joining Nationals right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.
Loaisiga, one of only 15 Nicaragua-born players to make it to the major leagues, remembers growing up watching major league players such as Dennis Martinez, Vicente Padilla, and Everth Cabrera, who would come back home to Nicaragua and be showered by fans. He is excited to represent his country and considers it an honour and a responsibility.
»Yankees rely on Loaisiga to be one of their go-to arms«
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