BALTIMORE — It didn’t take long for Aaron Boone to notice Jhony Brito once spring training began.
Even though Brito was not high on the Yankees’ top prospects list, one of the right-hander’s early Tampa bullpens grabbed the manager’s attention. As Boone watched Brito throw from behind the mound, he alerted the organization’s pitching coaches standing nearby.
“He can help us,” Boone declared.
Fast forward to the early days of the regular season, and Brito is doing exactly that. Injuries thrust the 25-year-old into the Yankees’ rotation prematurely, but Brito has pitched beyond his years since ending his camp with 5 1/3 perfect innings. The day served as both an audition and, looking back, a preview of Brito’s first two major league starts.
After twirling five scoreless innings against the Giants in his major league debut on April 2, Brito foiled the Orioles at chilly Camden Yards on Saturday night, paving the way for a 4-1 Yankees win.
Baltimore only mustered one run off the neophyte, which Brito unintentionally assisted. After Cedric Mullins began the game with a single, the pitcher deflected a comebacker off the bat of Adley Rutschman, putting runners on the corners. Anthony Santander then lifted a ball out to right field. Oswaldo Cabrera caught it for the out, but Mullins scored on the sac fly. It was the first earned run of Brito’s big league career, but the only one he permitted in the game.
All in all, Brito tossed five innings while holding the Orioles to three hits. He also walked two and struck out two over 92 pitches.
He’s now begun his big league career with a 0.90 ERA.
