New York Yankees option Yangervis Solarte to Triple-A

The New York Yankees have optioned struggling infielder Yangervis Solarte to Triple-A. That move might surprise a few especially when you look at his current numbers.

As we sit, Solarte’s slashline is .260/.343/.393 with 6 home runs and 30 RBI. So why the demotion?

All you need to do his look at his monthly splits and get the picture.

March/April: .303/.404/.461, 1 HR, 13 RBI (89 PA)
May: .296/.339/.469, 5 HR, 13 RBI (110 PA)
June: .164/.282/.213, 0 HR, 4 RBI (71 PA)

Combining those from the first two months of the season, Solarte crafted a slashline of .299/.369/.466. The Yankees were 27-22 in games in which he appeared. And there’s no point in showing July’s numbers, but even with only 8 PA, the numbers are worse than those of June.

It’s clear that the wheels were falling of, and the club needed to make a change.

The switch-hitting Solarte won a spot on the Yankees 25-man roster after a spring training slashline of .429/.489/.571. With the unknown configuration of the Yankees infield, Solarte was provided a chance to receive ample playing time. He made the most of it – and then some – if for only a couple of months.

Taking Solarte’s spot on the 25-man is Zelous Wheeler. Wheeler, 27, has spent parts of eight seasons in the minors. He’s been a member of the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles organization before joining the Yankees organization this season. In 66 games for Scanton-Wilkes Barre, Wheeler’s slash is .299/.367/.467 with 7 home runs and 31 RBI.