New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays

Dellin Betances #68 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 26, 2016 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

(Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

As the Yankees get into the thick of spring training in 2017, Dellin Betances will leave the club.



In March, the World Baseball Classic will return. Betances, one of baseball's most dominant relief pitchers, will represent the Dominican Republic in the battle between countries. Despite being born in New York, Betances wanted to represent the country his family was from.



"Both teams want me to play [for them], but I made a commitment to the DR,'' Betances told the New York Post. "That is where my family is from, and I want to make them proud.''



In 2016, Betances pitched to a 3.08 ERA for the Yankees. Since bursting on the scene as a relief pitcher in 2014, Betances owns a 1.93 ERA across 2.47 innings pitched. With general manager Brian Cashman looking toward a possible reunion with closer Arolids Chapman, Betances could reprise his role as a set-up man in New York's 2017 bullpen.

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Innings in the WBC will likely be a Yankees concern when it comes to Betances' usage in the tournament. Last season, the tall righty seemed to wear down late in the season due to fatigue.



Betances owned a 2.12 ERA at the end of August--it actually dipped to 2.05 after a scoreless outing on September 5--but finished with an inflated figure. The reason: 10 runs allowed in his final nine appearances out of Joe Girardi's bullpen down the stretch of the regular season.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.