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Yanks fortify 'pen with Betances, option Marshall

NEW YORK -- The Yankees moved to bolster their bullpen's depth on Thursday, recalling right-hander Dellin Betances from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Betances, 25, had been touted as one of the club's brightest pitching prospects, ranked No. 19 by MLB.com, but the local product has experienced struggles with his control and recently moved to the bullpen full-time at Triple-A, where he was 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA in eight games (six starts).

"It's different," Betances said. "You get an adrenaline rush. It's fun coming out of the bullpen and trying to attack guys and throw first-pitch strikes. I enjoy the role. Whatever I'm needed to be, I'm here for."

Right-hander Brett Marshall, ranked No. 16, was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding roster move, one night after Marshall saved the bullpen by throwing 108 pitches in 5 2/3 innings of long relief as he made his Major League debut.

Manager Joe Girardi said that Betances could provide the Yankees with length if they get into another wild game.

"He's done OK [at Triple-A]," Girardi said. "Your hope there is that he can simplify things and get on a roll and be a power arm for you."

Betances said that he was told about his shift to the bullpen by Minor League pitching coordinator Gil Patterson after he pitched five hitless innings in a win at Gwinnett on May 5.

The timing seemed odd to Betances, but he has been willing to accept the challenge if it helps his chances of contributing in the big leagues and said he feels "real close" to being back where he needs to be mechanically.

"At first it was hard. I'd been a starter since I signed," Betances said. "It's one of those things, but you kind of understand that situation. They said there's gonna be more opportunities out of the bullpen, so just go out there and compete. I took it all right. When the phone rings, I just get ready to go in."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat.
Read More: New York Yankees, Dellin Betances, Chris Stewart, Travis Hafner, Michael Pineda, Joba Chamberlain, Brett Marshall, Andy Pettitte