Yankees Yovanny Cruz sent back to Triple-A despite solid outings

In his first three major league games, Yovanny Cruz has shown excellent stuff, velocity that hitters have not been able to handle and the type of profile that makes a lot of sense at the back of the Yankees bullpen, which could use a shutdown reliever.And yet after two of these outings, the Yankees have sent him right back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

Cruz — who was impressive in two perfect, three-strikeout innings Tuesday — was demoted again Wednesday so the righty could continue to work on his command and his splitter, manager Aaron Boone said.The 26-year-old flame-thrower has yet to issue a walk in 4 ¹/₃ major league innings but has walked 4.1 per nine innings at the lower level.He was overpowering against the Tigers this week, averaging 101.1 mph with his four-seamer, while also leaning upon a splitter that induced two whiffs in five swings.He threw the splitter seven times.In 28 ¹/₃ innings with SWB, he had thrown 18 splitters.“The splitter, which we saw the other night, is kind of a new thing for him,” Boone said before Friday’s 5-2 win over the Twins.

“So we want him to continue to get that going because if he’s got that splitter going and the strike-throwing going, then it gets really exciting.”Cruz had been summoned originally in May, struck out three in 2 ¹/₃ ⅓ scoreless, one-hit innings against the Blue Jays and then was optioned.The Yankees had other corresponding options this week as they activated David Bednar from the paternity list — Jake Bird, Camilo Doval and Brent Headrick are able to be sent to the minor leagues without being subject to waivers — but opted to send down an impressive pitcher who they say needs a bit more refining.“We’re super encouraged,” Boone said of Cruz, “but want him to continue to work and have that splitter going, too.”On a day the Yank...