The legend of right-handed pitcher Michael Ynoa
began the moment he signed a then-record $4.25 million contract with the
Oakland A’s in 2008 as a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Because of recurring
injuries, he has pitched only a total of 39.2 innings in the five seasons since
landing that landmark deal, assuming the identity of a real-life Sidd
Finch. Already cursed with having to bear the
weight of so many expectations, the load just got even heavier for Ynoa, who
despite his rawness was just recently
added to the A’s 40-man roster. Earlier this
summer I had a rare opportunity to meet this enigmatic player, but left feeling
like I had even more questions about the intriguing prospect and what his
future ultimately holds.
Ynoa had no shortage of suitors as a youth in the
Dominican. His agent, Adam Katz, supposedly had a $2.7 million handshake deal
in place with the New York Yankees before attempting to renegotiate after
finding other teams were willing to pay more, and the Bombers pulled put.
The Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers each offered
more lucrative contracts, but Ynoa ultimately chose to accept the A’s offer
because he believed they could help him develop quicker, telling ESPN.com’s
Enrique Rojas, "After careful thought, my parents and I decided that
Oakland has a better pitcher development program, and that will be more
important for my career in the long haul."
The baseball world buzzed
after Ynoa finalized his deal with Oakland. Raymond Abreu, then Oakland’s
Director of Latin America Operations, announced his opinion that Ynoa was the
best Latin prospect since Felix Hernandez. He also gushed about his tools,
stating, “As a pitcher, he has effortless mechanics with loose arm action on
all his pitches and a clean, easy delivery. He's an exceptional athlete and he
throws a very heavy fastball."
At the time of the signing, Baseball
America reported that
a number of scouts believed Ynoa was a “once-in-a-generation talent,” with an
arsenal of a mid-90’s fastball, breaking ball and changeup that put him on par
with pitchers far older and more experienced.
The high hopes for Ynoa
stalled as quickly as they started. Instead of making his pro debut in 2009 as
expected, he missed the entire season with elbow problems. The A’s decided it
was prudent to be cautious with the teenager and not risk major injury.
Unfortunately, that strategy couldn’t prevent what was to come.
Ynoa struck out 11 batters
in 9 innings in 2010 with Oakland’s instructional league team in Arizona, but
was once again shut down with arm injuries. This time it was discovered he needed Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss all of the 2011
season.
At the age of 20, Ynoa
finally got his professional career underway in 2012, four years after first
signing with Oakland. He started in instructs, but was moved up to the short-season
Vermont Lake Monsters in late July to get his first real taste of minor league
baseball.
Since Vermont is my home
team, my excitement knew no bounds when I initially heard Ynoa was making his
way to the Green Mountain State. Having eagerly read about him for years, but
having virtually no tangible information to go on, his arrival for a baseball
nerd like me was akin to getting an opportunity to see a unicorn rubbing his
horn against a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
If you only go by the sheer
numbers, Ynoa struggled with Vermont. In 8 games, he went 1-3 with a 6.97 ERA.
Although he struck out 19 batters in 20.2 innings, he also issued nearly a walk
per inning.
Despite the lack of
consistency and results, Ynoa’s vast potential was easy to see. His fastball
varied between 88-95, and his breaking ball occasionally made hitters look
absolutely foolish, while at other times being flatter than an expired Miller
High Life. Because of his lengthy time off from any meaningful baseball
activities, such results were not only excusable, but expected.
Being a curious sort, I
determined that I was going to do whatever it took to speak with Ynoa and find
out more about the mysterious pitching savant. It was easier said than done.
Vermont’s players are
typically on the field at least an hour before game time, stretching, playing
games of pepper and generally unwinding before first pitch. However, unless it
was his day to pitch, Ynoa rarely emerged from the clubhouse until mere moment
before the ceremonial call of “Play ball” echoed over the loudspeakers.
One evening I decided to
wait until after the game, when players finished showering and wandered off for
the night. I silently congratulated myself when after about 30 minutes I saw an
impossibly tall and lean figure slightly duck to exit out of the clubhouse and on
to the concourse.
The first thing that struck
me about being that close to Ynoa was his imposing presence and size. He has
piercing grayish blue eyes that literally make it uncomfortable to make eye
contact with him. At 6’7”, he towered over me. The program listed him at 205
pounds, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he were 20 pounds lighter than that. His
comically long arms put the goofy thought in my head that if we were on the
playground and he decided to snatch off my cap, I would have virtually no
chance of getting it back.
After I introduced myself
and stated that I hoped to ask him some questions, I could tell he was quietly
sizing me up. When he spoke, his voice was a methodical and deep rumble, reminiscent
of famed professional wrestler Andre
the Giant. He agreed to speak
with me, but asked if we could chat after the game the following night. I agreed
but assumed I would never speak with him again.
Before walking away, Ynoa
shook my hand, with his enormous paw engulfing mine so fully that it made me
feel dainty for the first time in my life.
Following the next game I
dutifully waited by the clubhouse, as Ynoa had requested, determined to give it
only 10 minutes past the deadline, before giving up on my quest as a lost
cause. For some reason I just knew I was going to get blown off. However, Ynoa strode
outside precisely at the time he had made the appointment and walked right up
to me.
English is not Ynoa’s first
language, but since being in the States he has learned enough to competently communicate.
Despite being happy to find out we would be able to talk, it didn’t take long
for it to become obvious that he is a man of few words.
I first asked Ynoa the
obvious question of how he was feeling, now that he was finally able to really
start his career. He gave me a big smile that belied his happiness about finally
being able to pitch, before replying, “I feel great after surgery and
everything that happened to me. I just want to pitch and keep doing well and
throwing my fastball without problems.”
I was curious about what it
was like for Ynoa to have left home at 16 to start his professional life so far
away from home and unable to speak the language. It’s a foreign concept in
today’s America, but so commonplace among Latin ballplayers. He admitted his naiveté
after signing his first contract. “I didn’t know how to do it because it was my
first year in professional baseball. I felt a little bit afraid the first
time.” These challenges are often ignored or glossed over, as people tend to
focus on his injury since joining the Oakland organization. It’s clear Ynoa had
to deal with even more significant challenges than his physical ailments.
Ynoa revealed only a little
of how he felt these past few years about his inability to be on the field,
when he described this inner turmoil after the injuries started popping up.
“The first surgery was a little hard,” he explained. “Every night I was
praying; praying to God.”
Through healing, luck or
divine intervention, Ynoa is finally back at the starting line, four-plus years
after he expected. Being added by the A’s to their 40-man major league roster
added even more weight to the already-onerous burden he has borne since being
signed by Oakland. The move protects him from being chosen in the upcoming Rule
5 Draft by another team
looking to snipe talent on the cheap. The A’s are obviously not ready to give
up on their already substantial investment, and believe that Ynoa can still
develop into a major league pitcher.
Teams view 40-man roster
spots like gold nuggets. The A’s designating Ynoa to one of those closely
guarded spots speaks volumes about in how much regard they hold the pitcher. They
clearly believe that he can still live up to his vast potential despite the
many bumps he has encountered since entering pro ball.
About to enter his sixth
season since signing; which most minor league players would consider an
eternity, Ynoa still has plenty of time to get where he wants to be. He will
only be 21 during the entire 2013 season, still relatively young by prospect
standards. Now that he has health and the clear backing of the A’s, what he
needs moving forward is game experience. Pitching on a regular basis will be
the best way for him to grow and hone his pitching skills.
Ynoa may fall by the wayside
like so many prospects before him, or he might make good and justify all of the
A’s support and investment. The important thing right now is that he finally has
a chance, and the outcome largely lies in his massive hands.
One can imagine a
16-year-old signing a multi-million dollar contract would be over the moon
simply having the money in-hand, but it’s obvious that Ynoa wants more, and has
yearned to prove he was worthy of his huge bonus and accolades. “I feel excited
that I am 100 percent,” he told me emphatically. “Everything is good. The point
is to do my work and be what I want.” What he wants is to be a major league
pitcher. Only time will tell if he can fulfill that goal, which was once seen
as a foregone conclusion.
