MOOSIC, Pa. — The biggest fright of Justus Sheffield’s season displayed exactly why the Yankees cherish him.
The top pitching prospect in the system and the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect overall, according to MLB.com, felt tightness in his left, pitching shoulder in the fourth inning Friday, his second start since getting called up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. What had been Sheffield’s showcase, with senior director of player development Kevin Reese on the scene, became a scare in an instant.
Manager Bobby Mitchell walked to the mound to pull his starter, who had tried in vain all day to get his shoulder loose, with each pitch only tightening it.