New York Yankees: Four corner infield options for 2018

Gleyber Torres

Check out the top prospect list on MLB.com. The #1 name on the list is Gleyber Torres. That list is somewhat outdated, but there’s no doubt that Torres is among the best prospects in baseball.

Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for Aroldis Chapman in 2016, Torres has done nothing but hit at every level. He was the MVP of the AZL in 2016 at only 19 years of age. In 2017 he posted identical .863 OPS at both AA and AAA.

He appeared primed to make his MLB debut when he tore the UCL in his left (non-throwing) elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery.

The Yankees aren’t likely to hand the third base job to a 21-year-old coming off a significant injury. However, he’ll be ready soon enough, and he won’t stay in the minors for long. When that time comes, they’ll need to make room for him somewhere in the infield.

Miguel Andujar

While not quite as highly rated as Torres, Miguel Andujar is a natural third baseman. He had a brief cup of coffee in the majors last year, going 4-8 with a walk and a stolen base. Across AA and AAA, he slashed .315/.352/.498 with 16 HR.

His bat is big league ready, but he needs to improve his patience at the plate. There are also questions about his defensive ability, as he has been far too error-prone in the minors.

He’s still young, turning 23 in March, so he has time to correct his flaws. Either way, he should receive more playing time in the majors in 2018.