A Paper Tiger
RHP Dillon Tate (2.81/1.14/83) is on paper one of the best Yankees’ pitching prospects. Here’s a scouting report from the end of last season.
"Tate may be older than either Shef or Acevedo at the same level, but he’s also a better prospect. While he does not strike out as many as either player, his control is more advanced. Tate’s numbers at Tampa—58 innings pitched, 48 hits, 46 strikeouts, 2.62 ERA, and WHIP of 1.08—are better than Acevedo’s when he was there. Remember he was once called the best arm in his draft class. And, he seems to be learning how to pitch deep into games, getting into the seventh inning or later in five of his last ten games. That’s a skill that some pitchers never learn at any age."
Unfortunately, his resolve is also reportedly paper thin. This from a different scout via Randy Miller at NJ.com:
"“He throws hard, but he has no bulldog in him. None. If you get to the big leagues and you’re pitching in Yankee Stadium in that American League East against Boston and Boston and Toronto and you’ve got that soft mentality … I might be afraid for you.”"
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
This presents an interesting conundrum. Tate has pitched with a chip on his shoulder with excellent results. But anger without real resolve can dissipate after surrendering a big home run in Beantown.
As the scout said, that takes a bit of bulldog.
Did Tate lose that while he floundered in Texas, and has now regained it? Or is he pushing to prove himself but won’t care once he makes the majors? Only Dillon knows.
And that includes the Yankees. Accordingly, they are unlikely to want to find out by letting him start a few games in July.
In fact, if Dillon wants to be the new Marshall of the pen, he is going to have to show his determination both in Spring Training and for the first couple of months at Triple-A. That will earn him a chance to work out of the Yankees bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Albert Abreu might have already gone past him.