Meet a Prospect: Gregorio Petit

Gregorio Petit is a member of the New York Yankees after the team made what could be conceived as a knee jerk reaction to the Brendan Ryan calf injury. The team sent a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Houston Astros for the 30 year old with all six years left of team control. Petit has played every infield position but catcher and first base in his career and now looks extremely likely to start the season on the bench in the Bronx. Let’s welcome Petit to the team and to the family.

Gregorio Jesus Petit was born on December 10, 1984 in Venezuela and has spent time with the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros before his stop in New York. Before New York Petit started his career in Oakland where he made his major league debut in 2008. Petit appeared in 14 games that season and only 11 games the next season in 2009 before being designated for assignment by the team.

Much like this season right before the 2010 season he was traded at the end of spring training to the Texas Rangers for former Yankees relief pitcher Edwar Ramirez. Petit stayed in the Rangers farm system for the 2010 season before latching on with the San Diego Padres to start the 2011 season on another minor league deal. Petit was back with San Diego in 2013 but not before spending the 2012 season in Triple-A with the Cleveland Indians after signing yet another minor league deal with before the season.

Petit signed a minor league deal with the Astros before the 2014 season and another before this season and has surprisingly hit well this spring with a batting average over .300. Petit is definitely a glove first type player and is on the team due to his ability to back up at the shortstop position. You will not receive much power from Petit but if he can be a late game substitute that can hit occasionally I think he will actually be an upgrade over Ryan in the long haul. Welcome to the team and welcome to the family Mr. Petit. All eyes on you.