When Should the Yankees Call Up Yoendrys Gomez?

Starting pitcher Yoendrys Gomez has pitched in the minors for five seasons. He’s also only 23 years old and coming off a very promising 2022 season.

Currently ranked as the 11th best prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, Gomez is the 4th highest ranked pitcher on the same list and is part of a massive pool of prospects, who are expected to be ready by either 2023 or 2024.

The Venezuelan right-hander’s estimated time of arrival to the big leagues is 2024, but depending on his performance in the minors, there could be a scenario, in which he plays his way onto the big-league roster. All the way back in 2020, the Yankees placed him on the 40-man roster, so management clearly sees him as a future contributor.

After dealing with injuries in 2021, including a torn UCL, Gomez started his 2022 season in June and played his way all the way up to the Somerset Patriots in Double-A. He spent most of the year with the Hudson Valley Renegades in High-A ball, making ten starts. Although all of them were no-decisions, he allowed only six earned runs in 28 innings for a 1.93 ERA. He also brandished good strikeout potential, racking up 27 punch outs.

The strong showing with the Renegades earned Gomez a promotion to Somerset to contribute to a playoff run. In four starts in the regular season, Gomez continued his success and even started a combined-no hitter against the Hartford Yard Goats on September 7. Although his ERA increased to 3.86, he struck out 19 batters while walking only six.

In the playoffs, Gomez was given the nod in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship against the Erie SeaWolves. The Patriots were facing elimination in the best-of-three series, but Gomez was up to the task, picking up the win by going five innings and allowing only two hits, but also two runs, striking out six and walking a mere one batter. Somerset won the game 9-2, and won the decisive Game 3 the next day.

So far in Spring Training, Gomez has looked fairly impressive. In 11.2 innings, he’s allowed just three runs and three walks while striking out 11.

Although Gomez isn’t expected to make his debut until 2024 and still needs a stint in Triple-A, a mid-season call-up shouldn’t be out of the question. In 2021, the Yankees gave Luis Gil the call to the big leagues, and his two months at the MLB level was integral for the Yankees to make the playoffs that year.

Perhaps Gomez could provide a similar impact and add to an already deep pitching staff in August and September. Regardless, the young righty is a prospect that Yankee fans should keep an eye on throughout the season.