Yankees Prospect Profile: Yangervis Solarte

While most minor league free agents won't get a prospect profile, Yangervis Solarte has really piqued the interest of some fans with his early spring training performance. Solarte is basically a utility infielder who is a journeyman at this point. Solarte may have found himself a permanent home, as the team really needs an infielder. Considering the other options on this team, Solarte has an outside shot of making this team.

Vitals & Statistics:

DOB:  07/07/1987
Bat-Throws: B/R
HT: 5-11
WT:176

2011 AA stats (121 gms) AVG/OBP/SLG/WOBA/WRC+                    .329/.367/.466/.372/130
2012 AAA stats (130 gms)                                                                   .288/.340/.405/.332/93
2013 AAA stats (103 gms)                                                                   .276/.323/.403/.324/89

Background:

Solarte was signed out of Venezuela by the Twins in 2005. His career has been riddled with injuries, but he has done a better job of staying on the field the past few years.

Solarte has spent most of his career in the Minnesota Twins organization. He wasn't considered a big prospect for them, and eventually found his way to the Texas Rangers. His prospect status didn't change with the move, but he did get the chance to advance to AAA.Unfortunately Solarte's numbers were nothing special at that level, as he failed put up the eye popping stats people expect out of players in the Pacific Coast League. 

Because of his lackluster numbers Solarte has never made an organization's top 30 prospect list. His lowly prospect status and the fact the Rangers have a lot of depth at the infield position the team made Solarte expendable. The Rangers did not resign him when he reached free agency. This allowed Solarte to sign with the Yankees as a minor league free agent.

2013 Performance & 2014 Outlook:

Unlike most players Solarte actually fared worse in his second year in AAA. This is a pretty bad sign. It suggests that he hasn't been improving.  Solarte may still prove to be a good player, but the mediocre stats that he put up in two years in an offensive league can't be erased by his early spring training numbers. According to Solarte the Rangers promised to call him up last season, so it's possible that he has more talented than his numbers suggest.If that is the case the Yankees may have signed an interesting player, who just happened to have developed slowly.

Even if he is a late bloomer I would not let him win a job out of spring training. He just doesn't have a great track record. With that said it would be great to have another switch hitter off the bench, so hopefully his hot start is a sign that he suddenly broke out.

Final Verdict:

Considering the Yankees would have to cut a player to put him on the roster, I do not see him making the team. It's pretty hard to imagine him beating out players like Dean Anna and Eduardo Nunez for roster spots, especially considering Nunez hasn't looked bad so far. Considering that Nunez and Solarte are the same age, and Nunez has done more in his career, I feel that Nunez should be given yet another chance, before the team gives Solarte one. With that said Solarte gives the team a lot of flexibility. He is a natural second baseman, but can really play any infield position, and has played some outfield as well.

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Josh Sabo is a Minor League writer for Yanks Beat Blog


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