Around the Empire: Yankees news - 9/15/19

New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: The Yankees will activate Dellin Betances on Sunday. Betances most recently pitched in Double-A on Friday. He went one inning, surrendering one homer on two hits and a strikeout. James Wagner of the New York Times noted on Twitter that Betances — who is typically a slow starter — is only averaging 92-94 MPH with his fastball, but Aaron Boone is optimistic he’ll continue to build velocity as the playoffs approach.

New York Post | Dean Balsamini: Justin Some purchased a 41-game season ticket package for “two nosebleed seats” in 2018 for $1,664 and $2,067 in 2019. When the Yankees told Some renewing the same package for 2020 was going to cost him $2,327 he was done. Balasmini’s interview with Some is just the latest example of the ever-increasing price of attending live sporting events.

New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: Brett Gardner might not have been a Yankee in 2019. The Yankees declined the option on the final year of his contract last winter and brought him back on a cheaper $7.5-million dollar deal. He’s responded with one of the best offensive years of his career and hit a career-high 25 home runs. Gardner was supposed to be a platoon outfielder and he’s been one of the team’s stars.

ICYMI, the Trenton Thunder won the Eastern League championship on Friday night. Here’s the video:

Tyler Norton had the box score in our Baby Bomber recap.