Pitching has dominated the conversation for the Yankees this offseason. Although he’s not a player, the first domino fell when the team named Matt Blake their new pitching coach. Blake has been part of the Indians organization since 2015, quickly rising from Lower Level Pitching Coordinator, to Assistant Director of Player Development, to Pitching Director. That meteoric rise is even more impressive considering the Indians have created several young studs over that span in Shane Bieber, Zack Pleasac, Aaron Civale, and more.
Blake and the Cleveland Indians proved to be the best producers of young pitching over the last few years, and the Yankees now wish to do the same.