TAMPA, Fla. — Regardless of where he fits in the larger scope of things, with the news of Domingo German signing a minor-league deal breaking around the middle of Friday’s game, Quinn Priester should feel pretty good about this one.
The 23-year-old right-hander, making his fourth appearance and third start of spring training, looked the best he has in Grapefruit League action this year on Friday during a 6-2 victory against the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
After Priester could not sustain success in his last start when facing opposing hitters for a second time, a slider-heavy recipe against a strong Yankees lineup did the trick.
Priester gave up a solo homer to second baseman Gleyber Torres in the fourth inning for the only run he allowed, and that should probably come with an asterisk considering it would’ve left exactly zero of 30 MLB parks.
“It feels like kinda the way spring should be: Things are all starting to be put together toward the end here,” Priester said. “Feels really good to put a good one out there where the intent was just to compete and win. Definitely achieved that goal.”
Priester’s slider certainly seemed to give Yankees hitters fits. Not only did it generate swing and miss, but it set up his other offerings. In addition to racking up 13 whiffs and 11 called strikes, Priester threw 38 of his 58 pitches for strikes.
Priester was even able to end this one on a positive note, inducing a 4-6-3 double play out of center fielder Trent Grisham for the first two outs of the fifth. Priester threw his slider 40% of the time Friday compared to 23.2% during the 2023 regular season.
“I really like throwing it,” Priester said. “We keep learning because it’s new. It’s moving differently, but the more I throw it, the more I wanna throw it.”
There were several cool moments within the start for Priester, too. In the first, Priester struck out Juan Soto on a sharp curveball, the Yankees right fielder smiling and nodding his head in approval.
Two batters later, there was an even bigger moment for Priester when he struck out one of his childhood idols, Anthony Rizzo, on a slider.
“That’s an at-bat I’ve been dreaming about since I was 14 years old going to Cubs games,” Priester said. “He was one of those guys I looked up to forever and was always a guy I loved just because of how he was with the city and everything. It was really cool.”
As impressive as the breaking stuff might’ve been for Priester — and it was — it also helped that he was around 95-96 mph with his velocity early on. Overall, Priester averaged 94.5 mph with his sinker, a 1 mph uptick over 2023.
ON THE MOUND
There was a neat moment for a former Pirates pitcher in the fourth inning, as Nick Burdi entered with two on and one out. If anyone remembers Burdi, he was hurt a ton, an incredible arm beset by injuries.
Burdi is back at it with the Yankees, trying to earn a job after having Tommy John surgery twice, as well as another procedure to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. With a lower arm slot, something the Yankees did to seemingly help Burdi stay healthy, he recorded three outs in relief.
Burdi struck out Sergio Alcantara swinging on a cutter and got Jack Brannigan to pop out to second before Billy McKinney’s bunt attempt was turned into an out to open the fifth.
Back in Bradenton, David Bednar (right lat) threw a bullpen, while Eric Lauer faced hitters in a live batting practice session. Shelton said how Lauer feels will determine how soon the Pirates might get him into games.
AT THE PLATE
The first of two homers came courtesy of Brannigan, who entered this one 1 for 17 in spring training action. This should erase those memories. The day after appearing in the inaugural Spring Breakout game, Brannigan gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead with his solo home run in the third inning.
Brannigan got a 1-1 sinker middle-in from Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt and powered it over the fence in left-center. And he wasn’t done. The Notre Dame product ripped an elevated fastball at 104.6 mph for a run-scoring single to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
This was also an impressive game from Jack Suwinski, who had a double and homer among his three hits. The first two went at least 103.3 mph before Suwinski turned on a 2-0 cutter located down and in for a three-run blast in the seventh.
“Feeling good at the plate is definitely something to feel good about at this point in spring training,” Suwinski said.
Now likely shifted into a reserve role after the addition of Michael A. Taylor, Edward Olivares continued his recent resurgence with a fourth-inning double.
“I chalk that up to being early in camp and being in a new place,” Shelton said of Olivares starting the spring 2 for 18. “He got a little swing-happy. Now, we’re starting to see it come back.”
IN THE FIELD
The signing of Taylor could bump Suwinski to right, though he said he’s willing to do whatever helps the team.
“Whenever they need me,” Suwinski said. “Just play where they put me. I’ve never met [Taylor]. I’m excited to have him. I know everyone will welcome him with open arms.”
UP NEXT
Mitch Keller will start Saturday at home against the Tigers, while Jared Jones will try to continue his strong spring during a split-squad road game vs. Atlanta in North Port, Fla.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and @JMackeyPG on X.
First Published: March 16, 2024, 1:46 a.m.
Updated: March 16, 2024, 1:59 a.m.
