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Overlooked Yankees prospect's velocity up after rigorous offseason plan

SYRACUSE – Zach Messinger knew this past offseason was going to be big for him. Just not for the reasons everyone assumed. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-hander had established himself as a perfect candidate for the Rule 5 Draft with a big year in Double-A Somerset, where he pitched to a 3.06 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts) with a 7-8 record, a save and 136 strikeouts to just 52 walks over 150 innings. Advertisement It seemed like the perfect opportunity for the 25-year-old, who was not added to the Yankees 40-man roster this winter, to get a look from another organization in the annual Rule 5, which typically sees numerous Yankees farmhands claimed and fast-tracked to the big leagues. 'It came and went,' Messinger, now with the Triple-A Scranton, recalls. 'My wife and I, we sat around, and we listened. We took it in, it didn't happen.' But that was OK. 'The Rule 5, it's obviously part of what comes with the territory; it was going to be an exciting offseason for me regardless, I kind of had my head down and I was excited to get to work,' Messenger said. Advertisement 'We were very much head down, we knew what the offseason could potentially hold with a lot of things waiting in the balance. But at the end of the day, I still had my eyes on trying to impress the (Yankees) coaches enough to make that next jump to the Triple-A level. At the end of the day, I needed to pick up some velocity, pick up some stuff and be able to move everything around to both sides of the plate. 'I took it as everything I put into last season was going to be a deciding factor, so at the time in December whenever that stuff rolled around, there was nothing I was going to be able to do to change it.' Zach Messinger was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft last winter and began the 2025 season with Triple-A Scranton. The same could not be said for the work he was going to put into this offseason, however. Advertisement Messenger and his wife, Kinsey, made the decision to move to Charlotte, where Zach was able to work with Tread Athletics and pick the brains of numerous former pros there, including his coach, former big-leaguer Justin Nicolino. So, when he didn't hear his name called in the Rule 5, the next move was simple. 'I immediately called my coach at Tread, and said, 'This is how it's going to be, now we're on to the next step and we're on to a tryout with whatever spring training brings us,'' Messenger said. More: 'Staying with his plan' has top Yankees prospect knocking on door of Triple-A A tedious, yet rewarding, process resumed, one in which Messinger says he's seen his fastball velocity increase from 91-93 mph that popped radar guns last season to 95 mph in Scranton, as well as significant refinements in command that allow him to rely more on his secondary offerings as he continues to improve his ability to work on both sides of the plate. Advertisement A lot of that, according to Messinger, was simply being able to stay healthy this offseason, which allowed him to work on increasing his mobility as well more simple things like getting better sleep and improving his diet to better maintain a naturally big frame. But, as he dug deeper at Tread Athletics and paired that with the work the Yankees do with refining pitch shapes and mechanics, he studied exactly where the deficiencies were that seemed to be holding him back from taking the big jump he always believed he could. 'The biggest thing to be able to make that velo jump, is all those guys that throw 100 miles per hour, they're the most efficient throwers in the world and the most efficient movers that they can be,' he said. 'It's not always upper body stuff; it can be in the hip or in the lower back. So, finding a routine that keeps me mobile and fluid in my lower half and upper half and finding some deeper in-ranges, plus getting strong in those positions too. Mixing in heavy ball routines and finding something that we can do to help pattern more efficient movements and build up strength in those positions.' More: Slugger who put High School Home Run Derby on map in 2013 resurfaces in Yankees system Advertisement Taken in the 13th round by the Yankees from the University of Virginia in the 2021 MLB Draft, Messinger now finds himself on the precipice of reaching the big leagues. Although he's struggled at times this season in Triple-A, going 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA in his first six starts, he's taken the same approach that he used to find success with Somerset to keep his head down and focus on what's in front of him as he continues to make the adjustments to facing lineups full of former big leaguers who are constantly making adjustments. 'I had a good thing going with my pitching coach and our catchers in Somerset last year, and trying to keep that momentum and keep that rhythm going into this season was a big thing for me,' Messenger said. 'I like to try to keep my mindset relatively similar to what I've had my entire minor league career,' he said. Going into this season with goals, obviously, but knowing that the only way I'm going to reach those goals is keeping my head down and staying focused on the task at hand. … So, keeping my head down, staying focused, trying to not get caught up in the 'you're one step away,' it's more intentional work throughout the day to try to grow as a pitcher, figure out what my big-league self looks like, and whenever the opportunity comes, to make sure I'm ready for it.' This article originally appeared on Yankees prospect Zach Messinger sees velocity increase in 2025