BREAKING: Solarte Sent to AAA; Wheeler Promoted To The Bronx

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Yangervis Solarte project is officially on hiatus, as the New York Yankees have sent Solarte to AAA in order to promote Zelous Wheeler to the major league level. While Solarte started the season incredibly well, even finding himself in the top ten of many offensive categories in the AL, he has lost himself at the plate over the last month. In the last 30 calendar days Solarte is “hitting” .148 with zero home runs and four RBI. While he was a great stop gap at 2^nd and 3^rd the first few months of the season, he needs to regroup and remember what he was doing right in April and May.

Bringing up Wheeler is a major move for the team. Many had thought Jose Pirela would be the next Yankee infielder brought up. Wheeler’s numbers are nothing to scoff at, hitting .299 with a .367 OBP, 7 home runs and 31 RBI through 66 games in AAA. He spent 27 games at 3^rd base this season, more than any other position. Regardless if you wanted Wheeler or Pirela brought up now, it is almost a given that both will be on the club when rosters expand, if not sooner. As we have seen this season, the Brian Roberts experiment can be summed by with, “well he’s not injured as often as I thought he would be.” This is the Yankees. That is not how we should think of any of our players. Time will tell is Wheeler’s injection into the lineup will fix its current ailments.