Five years ago, Tyler Wade was reluctant to shift into a utility role when Gary Denbo, then with the Yankees’ player development staff, approached him about the potential move.
Now, Wade considers it one of the best decisions he’s made in his baseball career.
“I think the stigma behind a utility player is not so much a negative anymore,” Wade told reporters in a Wednesday Zoom call. “It’s more of a role player who has an important part on each club. More teams are having that guy. I think it’s important. Defense wins championships. I know it’s kind of a cliché saying, but if you’re in a one-run game, you need good defense.”
Wade has used his prolific speed and athletic ability to become a versatile defender for the Yankees, having played every position but first base and catcher over the last three seasons, and with the long list of injuries that have hit the Yankees roster in recent seasons, having a bench player with such versatility is important.
Now nearly five years into his new baseball identity, Wade is starting to fully embrace his role with the team.
“I love it,” Wade said. “I’m a big fan of the versatility. I take pride in that…It’s something this game has been missing and it’s starting to come back a little bit. I’m excited. I’m starting to feel like myself again. I’ve really embraced this role.”
While Wade’s defensive work has helped the Yankees in recent years, including last year when he stepped in for DJ LeMahieu while he recovered from COVID-19, his bat has yet to come around. In his four big-league seasons, Wade is slashing .190/.274/.301 in 346 plate appearances, and batted .170 last year in 88 at-bats. He has just a .583 OPS so far this spring, and knows a versatile fielder is only so valuable if it isn’t paired with some kind of offensive production.
“It’s extremely frustrating, especially when I know I’ve been working hard and I know what I’ve put in,” Wade said. “But I think you need to fail in order to grow…my swing has always been there, it’s just finding that routine when you’re not getting those everyday at-bats to really feel like yourself and on time and like you’re really in that flow of the game.”
Wade’s minor league numbers were much better as an everyday player, and finding a way to stay sharp through infrequent playing time has been a challenge. But entering the 2021 season, with competition like veteran Derek Dietrich hoping to find a way onto the Opening Day roster, Wade will have to find a way to stay sharp when his name is called and prove he can be an improved hitter despite infrequent at-bats.
“I’m a big believer in putting the work in,” Wade said. “I’ve learned that the last three or four years that you have to have a different routine than you would to play every day just to keep your mind and your swing ready for everyday at-bats…you just have to make sure when you do get your time to play, you have to be synced up and be on time.”
If Wade finds himself on the Opening Day roster, the Yankees hope he wouldn’t be needed too regularly, as the alternative would likely mean more injuries increased his playing time. But whatever his workload looks like, Wade is out to prove that he can be an asset to the team, no matter what capacity.
“I think you always strive to be an everyday player, but you have to know what your role is,” Wade said. “Especially being on this team, we’re one of the best teams in the world. Just being able to get in whenever I can to help the team win… But I think the biggest part for me is knowing who Tyler Wade is and what he does really well, and being able to hone in on those skills. So pressure? Not really, I don’t feel it. It’s just more of ‘hey, you have to do your job.’”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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