With the New York Yankees getting hit with an injury to their infield, Tyler Wade ought to get a chance to be assessed in the Majors.
New York Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro left Monday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field with a right hamstring strain after coming up limping running to first base at the end the third inning.
Castro was replaced at second by Rob Refsnyder and the club later announced that he suffered a right hamstring strain. With that, he’ll likely hit the disabled list. Taking his place on the roster, however, could be the Yankees’ 11th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, Tyler Wade.
On the radio with ESPN’s The Michael Kay Show, general manager Brian Cashman said that if the Yankees are in need of infield help from Triple-A due to injury, Wade’s name would be called from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre which could be foreshadowing a move that may be announced tonight or early Tuesday afternoon.
The RailRiders official Twitter account also announced that Wade was pulled from the RailRiders away game at Syracuse for Cito Culver when their game resumed after a rain delay.
And it’s not like this call-up is unwarranted, as the 22-year-old has hit safely in 21 of his last 25 games entering Monday for the RailRiders, going 34-for-93 (.366) with eight extra-base hits and 11 stolen bases. On June 23 against the Pawtucket Paw Sox, he became the first RailRider to steal three bases in a single game this season.
Among International League hitters, Wade, who was picked by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Murrieta Valley HS (Murrieta, CA), ranks third in batting average (.313) and first in stolen bases (24).
According to MLB Pipeline, Wade’s “quickness, arm strength and smooth actions make him a quality defender up the middle.” In four minor league seasons, he has played in 89 games at second base posting a fielding percentage of .968 and a range factor per game of 4.07.
Nothing is confirmed yet, but don’t be surprised when the team announces that Wade has been placed on the 40-man and is in Chicago preparing for his Major League debut.