Angel Chivilli is a 23-year-old right-handed reliever recently acquired by the New York Yankees from the Colorado Rockies. Signed out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in 2018, Chivilli quickly rose through Colorado’s system, making his MLB debut by June 2024 at age 21. In the minors, he was groomed as a late-inning bullpen arm, showcasing a classic sinker-slider-changeup repertoire that helped him dominate lower levels. Despite a 5.61 ERA in High-A/Double-A in 2023, Chivilli posted an 18.6% swinging-strike rate over 61 innings, the highest whiff rate of any pitcher in the Rockies’ system that year. His strikeout prowess (around 11 K/9 in the minors) and improved stuff earned him a 40-man roster spot after 2023. Notably, his fastball velocity jumped into the mid/upper-90s, even touching triple digits in 2024, and scouts raved about his plus-plus changeup as a devastating out-pitch. By mid-2024, prospect analysts like FanGraphs ranked Chivilli among Colorado’s top prospects (45 FV), projecting him as a potential late-inning reliever given his electric arsenal.
Chivilli’s first taste of the majors in 2024 offered a glimpse of his upside. He appeared in 30 games for the Rockies, logging a 2-3 record, 4.55 ERA and one save in 31.2 innings. While the ERA was modest, he flashed impressive poise and control early, even becoming the first Rockies reliever ever to issue no walks in his first 12 career appearances. After some early ups and downs, Chivilli hit his stride late in the year: he ran off an 8.1 inning scoreless streak and was scoreless in 19 of his final 25 outings. His signature changeup already played as a legitimate weapon as it held opponents to a .259 average, but Statcast expected only a .208 average on that pitch, indicating some bad luck on balls in play. In other words, hitters struggled to square up Chivilli’s off-speed offering. Overall, a 4.55 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 10 walks as a 22-year-old rookie was a solid foundation. The Rockies even reportedly discussed the intriguing but unlikely idea of converting him to a starter down the line, given his three-pitch mix and athletic delivery. However, both the organization and outside observers agreed his fastest path to impact was continuing to develop as a high-leverage reliever.
In 2025, Chivilli experienced a sophomore slump, but beneath the surface there are reasons for optimism. He pitched 58.2 innings over 43 relief outings, posting a bloated 7.06 ERA and 6.03 FIP with a 1-5 record. His WAR dipped into negative territory (-0.7 fWAR) reflecting the rough results. The raw stats were ugly, but advanced metrics suggest Chivilli’s underlying performance was more encouraging than a 7.06 ERA implies. Consider these key indicators:
Top Velocity – Chivilli’s four-seam fastball averaged 97.1 mph in 2025. This power arm immediately becomes one of the hardest throwers in the Yankees’ system, aligning with the franchise’s desire to add velocity to a staff that averaged just 92.5 mph on fastballs last year.
The Coors Field Effect – He throws a hard slider around 90 mph. This tight breaking ball was a bit inconsistent at altitude, but still generated a solid 23.4% swinging-strike rate in 2025. Scouts rate the slider as improved but still a work-in-progress in terms of shape. Moving to sea-level should aid its break as the thin air in Colorado tends to flatten breaking pitches, so the Yankees expect Chivilli’s slider to get sharper with normal conditions.
Elite Changeup – Chivilli’s best pitch is a mid-80s changeup with plus-plus quality. It tunnels well off his fastball and induces ugly swings. In 2025, his changeup yielded an outstanding 42% whiff rate (swings that miss) and a 26.3% swinging-strike rate overall, making it one of the more unhittable changeups when located. Hitters managed only a .259 average off it in 2024, with a much lower expected average. The changeup dives with late fade, generating both whiffs and weak contact. It’s a true out-pitch that the Yankees can deploy in big spots.
Other analytics paint a picture of a pitcher who misses bats and avoids walks but was hurt by lapses in approach. Chivilli’s career swinging-strike rate is 14.4% (well above league average), and his chase rate is a healthy 32.3%, indicating hitters do offer at his stuff out of the zone. He also kept his walk rate to a solid 8.1%, suggesting decent control. However, his actual strikeout rate (17.4% K%) lagged far behind the whiff metrics. This disconnect stems from an inability to get ahead in counts and finish off hitters efficiently. His first-pitch strike rate was just 56.9% (vs ~62% MLB average), often putting him in hitter’s counts. Even with hitters flailing at his nastier offerings, too many at-bats were extended or ended in contact. When batters did connect, the damage was severe. Chivilli surrendered 20 home runs in 90.1 career innings (1.99 HR/9). Elevating straight fastballs in Coors Field likely contributed to that homer problem. In fact, he fared a bit better on the road (5.03 ERA) than at Coors (7.06 ERA), reinforcing the idea that a more pitcher-friendly environment could help normalize his results. All told, Chivilli’s 2025 season looks like a classic “live arm with bad stat line” scenario which is exactly the kind of arm that the Yankees are betting that tweaks to usage and mechanics will unlock a quality reliever.
Yankees’ Fit and MLB Potential
The Yankees acquired Chivilli as a one-for-one trade, sending minor league first baseman T.J. Rumfield to Colorado in return. In doing so, New York continues a trend of finding upside in Rockies pitchers. (Is it a coincidence that fans joke “Is there a team that likes Rockies players more than the Yankees?”) In recent years the Yankees have had an eye on Colorado’s roster, for instance, they struck gold in 2019 by acquiring outfielder Mike Tauchman from the Rockies, who went on to be a key contributor in the Bronx. Chivilli represents a similar kind of savvy pickup: a young, high-upside arm who might flourish away from the perils of Coors Field. Yankees GM Brian Cashman and pitching coach Matt Blake are undoubtedly tantalized by Chivilli’s raw tools. At 97+ mph, his fastball instantly makes the bullpen harder-throwing, an area the Yankees have sought to improve after their staff’s velocity dipped in 2025.
This acquisition aligns with the Yankees’ “Gas Station” pitching development philosophy, an effort to stockpile high-octane arms and then refine their pitch shapes and command. Indeed, the Yankees explicitly see Chivilli as a “hard-throwing project” for their pitching lab. Optimistically, Chivilli could develop into a late-inning weapon for New York. He’s only 23 and controllable for five more seasons, so the team has time to hone his game. The blueprint will be to get him attacking the zone early and let his natural bat-missing ability shine. If the Yankees can bump his first-pitch strike rate closer to league average and perhaps alter his fastball shape or usage, the strikeouts should follow the whiffs. With more typical sea-level conditions, his slider and changeup should break sharper and become even more effective. Patience and careful coaching are key; young relievers often take time to put it all together, and health/consistency are never guarantees.
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