Dellin Betances is a former professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on March 23, 1988, in New York City and grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Betances attended Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn, where he played baseball and basketball.
Betances was drafted by the New York Yankees in the eighth round of the 2006 MLB draft. He spent several years in the Yankees' minor league system, working his way up through the ranks. He made his MLB debut on September 22, 2011, pitching in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays. Betances struggled in his first few seasons in the majors, but he gradually improved and became one of the most dominant relief pitchers in the game.
Betances was known for his powerful fastball, which he could throw at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. He also had a devastating curveball that he used to strike out batters. Betances was a four-time All-Star and won the American League Reliever of the Year award in 2014. He was also a key member of the Yankees' bullpen during their playoff runs in 2017 and 2019.
Betances' career was not without its setbacks, however. He suffered a number of injuries throughout his career, including a torn Achilles tendon in 2019 that caused him to miss most of the season. Betances signed with the New York Mets as a free agent in 2020, but he struggled with injuries and poor performance during his time with the team. He was released by the Mets in August 2021 and announced his retirement from baseball shortly thereafter.
Despite his struggles in his final season, Betances will be remembered as one of the most dominant relief pitchers of his era. He finished his career with a 2.36 ERA and 680 strikeouts in 381 innings pitched. Betances was also known for his charitable work off the field, particularly his support for the Harlem RBI program, which provides educational and athletic opportunities for underprivileged youth in New York City.
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