Estevan Florial is now just one step away from the Majors.
The Yankees announced Friday that Florial has been promoted from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, following a start that saw the 23-year-old slash .229/.308/.629 with four home runs in nine games with the Patriots.
"Flo has done a good job at the start of the season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Friday’s game in Baltimore. “We've always loved the person and the tools and what we believe he can be."
Florial’s nine games at Somerset were his first regular-season games above High-A ball – his only previous Double-A experience was two games with Trenton in the 2017 Eastern League Playoffs, where he went 1-for-4 in one start and one pinch-hit appearance.
However, Florial did play in the Majors before reaching Double-A or Triple-A, making his MLB debut as the 29th man in a doubleheader against the Mets on August 28, 2020, and going 1-for-3 in Game 1.
The timing of the promotion is potentially fortuitous for the Yankees, as Florial is on the 40-man roster and the Yankees’ outfield is in peril. Boone announced that Aaron Hicks’ MRI revealed a tendon sheath issue in his wrist, which could sideline him anywhere from a couple days to perhaps a long-term injured list stint, and his absence leaves the Yankees with only three healthy outfielders plus Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade (and maybe DH Giancarlo Stanton) as emergency/backup options.
However, entering Friday, Frazier is hitting .141, Gardner is hitting .182, and Judge is hitting .273 but has been banged up all season – and of the backup options, Wade and Andujar, the latter of whom is hitless in 13 at-bats, are currently de facto starting infielders with Gleyber Torres on the COVID IL, Rougned Odor on the actual injured list, and Gio Urshela dealing with a knee issue.
As for Stanton?
"He's doing his work out there, he's making sure he's doing plenty of running, but I have not committed yet to putting him out there," Boone said.
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