Cervelli is A-Ok
According to Joe Girardi, Francisco Cervelli has the potential to be a #1 catcher
According to a report in the NY Daily News today, Francisco Cervelli is not feeling any lingering effects after taking a bat to the head during winter ball, which he had to cut short due to the incident. According to the article:
Francisco Cervelli stopped playing winter ball in his native Venezuela after he was struck in the head by a hitter’s back-swing during a game, he said after a recent workout at the Yankees’ minor-league complex.Cervelli was examined at a hospital in Venezuela and the Yankees also had their doctors look at him.
“Nothing bad,” Cervelli said. “No concussion. I came here to check my head and the doctors said no action for a month. The Yankees said no more and you pay attention, that’s it.”
This is definitely good news for the Yankees who are planning on Cervelli being the regular back-up to Jorge Posada. He is coming off a very good rookie campaign where he really impressed the Yankees by throwing 10 of 23 runners (43%), and is rated the best defensive catcher within the Yankee organization by Baseball America. It should also be noted that he hit .298 in 98 at-bats with the team last year. He is definitely not known as a power threat, but that may very well change over time. Personally, I am extremely happy that the Yankees are holding onto this guy, and assigning him the responsibility of backing up Posada. Last year I saw nothing but promise with who I hope will become Posada’s eventual successor. Manager Joe Girardi has stated that he feels Cervelli has the potential to at one time become a #1 catcher.
What are your thoughts on Cervelli? Is he someone you can see eventually as Jorge Posada’s successor?
To read more on this Daily News report, click here.
Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com
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[...] will be something that the Yankees will have to monitor closely. Earlier this winter Cervelli took a bat to the back of his head on a hitter’s backswing while catching for a winterball team in Venezuela. While Cervelli [...]