Chad Green Set to Make MLB Debut Tonight

When Effingham native Chad Green got the call to join the New York Yankees over the weekend, it wasn't clear exactly how manager Joe Girardi planned to use his new right-handed pitcher or when Green's major league debut might take place.

Now we know.

Green, a 2010 Effingham High School graduate, is tonight's scheduled starter for the Yankees, who begin a road trip tonight in Arizona. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. CT at Chase Field in Phoenix; he'll square off with fellow 24-year-old Robbie Ray. Unfortunately, there will not be any national television coverage of the game.

The Saturday morning call-up comes on the heels of an arm injury to New York reliever Luis Severino, who left Friday's game with the White Sox and has been placed on the 15-day disabled list; the severity of his injury hasn't yet been revealed.

At triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Green established himself as the RailRiders' top pitcher during his first season with the Yankees organization; in seven starts, he'd posted a 1.22 ERA. Over 37 innings, he struck out 36 hitters and walked just 12. International League opponents were hitting just .215 against him and his WHIP (walks/hits per inning pitched) was just 1.11.

After high school, Green was a 37th round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays, but chose to attend the University of Louisville. After the requisite three years, he re-entered the MLB amateur draft in 2013 and was an 11th round selection by the Detroit Tigers. Following two years in the Tigers organization, he was traded to the Yankees in December 2015.