Local product Tropeano signs minor-league deal with Yankees
BRONX, N.Y. — I'm coming home, I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming home. West Islip, N.Y. native and SUNY Stony Brook product, Nick Tropeano, has inked a minor-league pact with the New York Yankees, as first reported by Jon Heyman.
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1215021845948305412?s=20
Tropeano has been a starting pitcher in parts of five seasons in the bigs. The 6'4" right-hander made his major-league debut with the Houston Astros in 2014 and has pitched with the Los Angeles Angels the past four seasons.
https://twitter.com/SBAthletics/status/993876983267328000?s=20
The 29-year-0ld spent most of the year in Triple-A and appeared in three games last season with the Halos, making one start and pitched to a 9.88 ERA and 9.21 FIP.
Tropeano has battled through injuries including a torn UCL and shoulder issues.
I saw Tropeano when he pitched for my New York Penn League (Short-A) team, the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2011 and he showed a ton of promise, moving quickly through the ranks.
In his career, Tropeano boasts a 4.51 ERA in 42 games and 39 starts, fanning 193 in 217.1 innings, posting a 4.95 FIP and 1.390 WHIP.
If he can stay healthy he could vie for the fifth starter spot or a long-man role out of the bullpen. Plus, if nothing else he can provide some depth with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.