The New York Yankees made a couple of moves before the August
31st trading deadline here in 2018 to solidify the team for their
postseason run, and one of those moves was to acquire infielder Adeiny
Hechavarria from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Let’s meet the man who is probably
happy that the Yankees don’t showcase last names on their uniforms. This is
Meet a Prospect: The Adeinu Hechavarria Special Edition.
Adeiny Hechavarria Barrera was born on April 15, 1989 in
Santiago de Cuba to Diosmede and Mirta Hechavarria. Hechavarria was a Cuban
defector that made his way to the United States after he and 11 others fled the
country via boat from Mexico during the Pan Am tournament in Mexico in 2006. Hechavarria
worked out and showcased his talents for teams in the Dominican Republic in
2010 before eventually signing with the Toronto Blue Jays on a four-year deal worth
$10 million. Hechavarria toiled around in the Blue Jays minor league system
until August 4, 2012 when Toronto called him up to the Major Leagues for the
first time. Hechavarria finished the 2012 season with the Blue Jays before
being traded to the Miami Marlins along with Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis,
Yunel Escobar, Jake Marisnick, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino in
exchange for LHP Mark Buehrle, RHP Josh Johnson, INF Jose Reyes, catcher John
Buck, and INF Emilio Bonifacio. #Blockbuster.
Hechavarria was named the Marlins starting shortstop on
Opening Day for the 2013 season and finished the 2013 campaign with a .227
average with three home runs and 42 RBI in 148 games played. Hechavarria was
much better in 2014 posting a .276 average with just one home run and 34 RBI in
146 games. Hechavarria saw his numbers continue to improve in 2015 as he posted
a .281 average with five home runs and 48 RBI in 130 games for the Marlins and
even won National League Player of the Week on April 26, 2015. Hechavarria saw
a slight decline in 2016 as his numbers dropped to a .236 batting average with
three home runs and just 38 RBI in 155 games. Hechavarria was back with the
Marlins for the 2017 season before the club ultimately traded the infielder
away to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor leaguers Braxton Lee and Ethan Clark.
Hechavarria finished the 2017 campaign with a .267 batting
average and a career-high eight home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays
designated Hechavarria on August 1, 2018 to clear a roster space for the newly
acquired outfielder Tommy Pham and was quickly traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for right-handed pitcher Matt Seelinger and cash. The Pirates then flipped
Hechavarria to the New York Yankees on August 31 of this year for a player to
be named later, thus starting his tenure in the Bronx. Welcome to the
organization, Adeiny, and welcome to the Yankees family.
He's not a prospect. He's an established Major League player.
ReplyDeleteIt says Special Edition in the post, as it did for Andrew McCutchen in his showcase this morning as well. It's just something we do here.
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