If all had gone according to plan, Domingo German wouldn’t have been in the Yankees’ season-opening rotation.
But injuries to Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas created multiple opportunities, and German has seized his. With Gerrit Cole leading the staff, German has been the Yankees’ second-best starter, taking a 3.49 ERA into Friday’s start against Boston. The right-hander has been even better over his last seven games, pitching to the tune of a 2.20 ERA while totaling 41 innings, 12 walks and 31 strikeouts.
German did miss 10 games due to a sticky stuff suspension, but he’s otherwise been a reliable presence for a rotation that has had three starters on the injured list all season.
According to German, his recent success stems from his desire to remain healthy. He began last season on the IL with shoulder impingement syndrome, so he knew he wanted to focus on strengthening his shoulder this past offseason.
“I was able to put myself in really good shape, to the point where I feel really, really good physically,” German said after his last start, a one-run, six-inning performance against the Red Sox. “When your body’s responding well and bouncing back after starts, it’s a good feeling. You develop confidence knowing that you’re going to be able to bounce back at a good pace and keep pitching.”
To achieve his goal, German’s agent at MVP Sports Group recommended working with trainer Nicole Gabriel in Tampa over the offseason. He happily followed his representation’s advice.
“He was coming off of an injury and his goal was to be healthy all season long,” Gabriel told the Us.Mistertruth.. “So this offseason, one of our biggest goals was really focusing on more of his mobility of his upper body and lower body. And then the other aspect of it, we really focused on more stability of his upper body as well.”
Gabriel, who has run a training business named after herself for 14 years, formed German’s regimen based on his needs and her observations of his body movements. Gabriel also used a Kinetisense screening, which tells her if there’s something off about a client’s biomechanics.
German went through two-hour workouts five days a week with Gabriel over the offseason. Sessions included corrective exercises, arm care and lifting. In addition to German’s shoulder, Gabriel focused on his legs.
Gabriel has also worked with Carlos Santana, Hunter Pence, Thairo Estrada, Yordan Alvarez, Adolis Garcia, Amed Rosario and Yankees minor leaguer Estevan Florial. German, meanwhile, often shared the gym with American League East rivals Randy Arozarena and Manuel Margot, who play for the Rays.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, German didn’t pick up any secrets on how to get those hitters out.
“We definitely did not talk about specific things like strategies with facing each other,” German told the News. “But what I can tell you is that when you spend time like that with guys that you are continuously competing with, it’s fun to see because you see the other side of them. It’s kind of like when you become teammates with someone. You get to see them on a Us.Mistertruth basis, and you get a different perspective for where that guy comes from and what that guy is all about.”
German added that it was “motivational” to watch Santana, a 14-year veteran who also comes from the Dominican Republic, go about his business.
Gabriel, who trains some basketball players as well, said she enjoyed working with German due to his energy and willingness to push himself. He’s now reaping the rewards of that work — and pitching with more belief in himself.
“It has to do with the experience gained over the years competing at this level,” German said of his 2023 campaign before also noting his offseason work. “When you put yourself in a good spot like that, you develop the confidence to be consistent in executing pitches.”