NEW YORK -- Domingo German said that he never expected to get to Yankee Stadium this quickly, especially after having Tommy John surgery shortly after being traded to the Yankees. He leaned on his teammates for support, naming Luis Severino in particular.
The 24-year-old German made his Major League debut on Sunday, pitching the final 2 2/3 innings in the Yankees' 14-3 victory over the Orioles without allowing a run. He was 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA in four games (three starts) at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 27 against 22 hits and seven walks in 26 1/3 innings. German was sent back to Triple-A after the game, and the Yankees are planning to recall righty Ben Heller before they face the Angels on Monday night.
"Walking in here, it's exciting," German said through an interpreter. "You walk in here and I see some of my ex-teammates here. I'm super happy, super excited for the opportunity to be here. I didn't think I was going to get here this fast. A lot of people told me that it was going to be hard. At the same time, I'm just happy for the opportunity."
German started the season at Double-A Trenton, where he went 1-4 with a 3.00 ERA in six starts. German lost all of 2015 to surgery after being acquired with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and infielder Garrett Jones from the Marlins in a Dec. 19, 2014, trade that sent right-hander David Phelps and infielder Martin Prado to Miami.
"It was a long process," German said. "I was traded to the Yankees and I wanted to show the abilities that I had, and then I got injured. It was a bit frustrating, because you want to show your new team what abilities you have and then you get injured.
"It was a tough time for me, but at the same time, I had really good friends. A guy like Severino who always gave me encouragement, always told me to stay strong, keep my head up, keep doing the work."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he was pleased by how German controlled his emotions in the 36-pitch outing, allowing two hits and walking one while recording his first career strikeout, getting Jonathan Schoop swinging to end the seventh inning.
"I thought he did a really good job," Girardi said. "It's not easy to come out, your first time out, and control your emotions and throw strikes. And that's exactly what he did."
Exit Layne
The Yankees will proceed without a situational left-hander after designating Tommy Layne for assignment following Saturday's 16-3 victory over the Orioles. Layne had a 7.62 ERA in 19 appearances for New York this year, spanning 13 innings, and lefties were hitting him at a .304 clip (7-for-23).

"Tommy was really, really good for us last year. He pitched great," Girardi said. "It's kind of been a struggle this year. He just never really got on track. I thought he was close a bunch of times."
Chasen Shreve is now the only left-hander in the bullpen, though closer Albertin Chapman is expected to return during the upcoming Athletics series in Oakland. Shreve has been used against both lefties and righties, as he's been effective against hitters from both sides of the plate.
"We're choosing not really to have a left-handed specialist in a sense," Girardi said. "I think our right-handers are very capable. When you have three one-inning guys, it's hard to carry that guy unless the other guys can give you distance."