In the winter of 2014 the New York Yankees designated one of
their former top prospects Slade Heathcott for assignment but not before
working out a behind the scenes deal that would bring the lefty back to the
organization. Heathcott was ultimately DFA’d, signed back to a new minor league
deal and eventually called up to the Major Leagues multiple times in 2015.
Could Tyler Austin, another former top Yankees prospect who was designated for
assignment in 2015 and brought back to the organization on a minor league deal,
be the Slade Heathcott of the 2016 campaign?
Yankees GM Brian Cashman sent Austin to the Arizona Fall
League this season marking the third time in his career that Tyler has seen the
AFL. Austin was chosen to replace Yankees third baseman Eric Jagielo on the
roster after it was announced that Jagielo needed more time to recover from a
midseason knee surgery, a blessing in disguise for Austin?
Austin has played much of his minor league career in right
field but has worked at both first and third base in his career. Austin has
started out playing first base in the Arizona Fall League which could be an
indication of the Yankees future plans for him. The Yankees offense was exposed
in 2015 after the injury to Mark Teixeira left left-handed swinging Greg Bird
as the only true first base option for New York. Could Austin be working his
way into a platoon spot, eventually, with Bird if the same was to occur in
2016? Quite possibly, yes.
Austin was drafted in the 2010 MLB First year Players Draft
in the 13th round as the 77th best prospect according to
Baseball America. Austin started out his professional season on fire and worked
his way all the way to Triple-A before injuries and ineffectiveness derailed
his career. Austin now has the pressure of being on the 40 man roster off his
shoulders and has the opportunity to turn all the questions and negativity into
a special sort of season in 2016, just like Heathcott did in 2015.
I, for one, am rooting for you Tyler.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)