Yankees rumors: When will Jake Cave get his shot in the MLB?
The New York Yankees possess few, if any, holes in their lineup overall. Due to the depth, they have in the outfield, Yankees rumors have it that Jake Cave may be stuck in the minors for another season.
The New York Yankees don’t have a shortage of outfielders. In fact, they have such a deep platoon of outfielders that they can trade a few away and still have an above-average starting crew. Yankees rumors have it that there are a few players in the minor leagues being denied entry into the big leagues because of it.
Jake Cave is one of them. Yet, he doesn’t have a set a date for his MLB debut, as he could make the leap in either 2018 or 2019.
Nevertheless, Cave has done everything to prove he is ready for the big time.
Cave stayed in the minors for the first seven years of his career. He was ultimately nothing special throughout his first few seasons, but he revved up his production substantially in 2017.
More impressively, his most appealing numbers came in Triple-A, where he posted a strong .921 OPS. Even though he whiffed in 27.6 percent of his at-bats, his power boosted that OPS by a fair amount.
Cave lacked intimidating power when the Yankees drafted him back in 2011. He earned most of his recognition as a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher. But the Yankees took a chance with his hitting abilities.
Before last year, Cave cracked no more than eight bombs in one season, no matter what level he’s playing. He cracked 15 homers for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2017 to demonstrate his power development.
However, while he focused on his strength to bump up his number of extra-base hits, he relied less on his speed. He demonstrated his base-stealing ability between 2013 and 2015, but now it’s a forgotten tool in his arsenal.
Still, despite being one of the older prospects in the organization, Cave boasts loads of potential for New York. He currently ranks No. 17 among Yankees prospects, per MLB.com. And while it may be difficult for him to become an everyday player in a stacked roster, he can still contribute.
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Cave could make an appearance early this season depending on the roster situation. Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner will likely be the rotation in the outfield, barring injuries. Jacoby Ellsbury – if he’s still in pinstripes – will be another option on the bench.
With the abundance of outfielders, Cave will likely have to wait until an injury occurs. But of the multiple prospects that are ready for the next step, Cave will probably be the first outfielder to get the call. Billy McKinney is another option for the Yankees as well.
Cave should receive most of the attention should a spot open up at some point this season. His power fits in well with the other Bronx Bombers. And he would be a solid bat toward the end of the lineup if he can transfer his success to the major leagues.
Overall, expect Cave to make an appearance sooner rather than later. But unless New York deals some outfielders or long-term injuries take place, it will be difficult for him to obtain and retain a starting spot on the Yankees.
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What is clear is that Cave has done all he can to prove to the front office that he is ready for a shot. And hopefully, these Yankees rumors come to fruition for the young prospect.