Three years ago, the Yankees’ middle infield depth consisted of Derek Jeter attempting to stand again following a shattered ankle, a helmetless Eduardo Nunez, potentially Luis Cruz, and a whole mess of despair.
It’s accepted knowledge that, in order to build a successful baseball team, franchise, and future, you must be strong up the middle. Three years ago, the Yanks were as weak as a colicky kitten.
Now, all your favorite Yankees prospects are middle infielders. They can’t possibly all find playing time. And that’s nothing but a good thing.
You know the names. Didi. Starlin. Refsnyder. Mateo. Even Tyler Wade, Wilkerman Garcia, and Kyle Holder, if you want to be generous. That’s seven names for two positions, and it’s also the most positive sign that the Yankees roster building strategy is actually headed in the right direction.
As fans, we get attached equally to our current favorites and to the hopeful promise of an effortless 20-year-old gliding around the bases. Therefore, it can be hard to reconcile our conflicting desires. All Yankee fans want Didi Gregorius to succeed, take a step forward, and emerge as an All Star shortstop. We want to see new acquisition Starlin Castro keep his second base momentum from late-2015 going, poking the short porch and watching his dormant power emerge.
However, we also want to see buzzworthy rookie Jorge Mateo grace the Bronx with his unparalleled speed. We want to see AAA hit machine Rob Refsnyder’s sweet stroke in the 9-hole, complimenting the more experienced bats surrounding him. Using our basic knowledge of the number of on-field positions, it’s clear that not all young infielders can fit in the roster puzzle.
For some prospect-hugging fans, the “dream” is to have old, replaceable parts on the big league roster for the sole purpose of tossing youth straight into the fire. To many, “youth” translates to “intrigue”, which translates to an automatic improvement, even if the actual on-field product has worsened, or the outlook for the future has become bleaker. Some people yearn for Stephen Drews just so they can replace them.
That’s gloriously not the current situation in Yankeeland. In three weeks, once Starlin Castro celebrates his birthday, the Yankees will field a starting middle infield of two 26-year-olds. Neither stud becomes a free agent before 2020. All set, right?
Well, as any discerning baseball fan knows, that’s hardly true. With the snap of a Jeter ankle, the 2013 Yankees season was torpedoed before it even started. Alfonso Soriano, at 27 years old, started the entire 2003 season at second base, slamming 38 homers and stealing 35 bases. By 2004, he was playing for the Texas Rangers. The lesson of baseball is: things always happen. Injuries change plans. Irresistible trades present themselves, and depth makes them possible. Prospects crumble, shirk their duties, or never develop the bat they’d promised us. And as long as there are five of them with similar possible projections, that’s fine. A 40% hit rate on young middle infielder potential could get the Yankees through an entire decade.
Wunderkind Mateo has begun Spring Training by cranking a long triple and a line-drive homer to deep left; the indications of power are there. If you’re looking for a muted Mateo with a lower ceiling but impressive and genuine baseball skill, the speedy Tyler Wade might suit your fancy. Most prospect experts agree Wilkerman Garcia, nearly 18 years old and part of the bounty from 2014’s International Signing Period, could break out this year and eclipse many of the Yanks top prospects. Kyle Holder, 2015’s first-rounder, may never hit. Or, he may, and he might also bring with him a glove that blew away most scouts pre-draft.
And, until those four shortstops are breathing down the big leaguers’ necks, the Yankees have 26-year-old Didi Gregorius and 26-year-old Starlin Castro. If the worst happens, they’re prepared. If the best happens, the franchise is propelled forward on the backs of these speedy, slick-fielding, slightly-older kids. 2019 isn’t pre-ruined.
The kids will wait. Unless they don’t have to. Then, some of them will thrive.
