Will The Yankees Ever Give Kyle Roller A Chance?

Power bats in this day and age don’t grow on trees. The Yankees tried out everyone from Kelly Johnson to Brian McCann at first base. Mark Teixeira can’t stay healthy anymore. Period. He’s said it himself. That’s why the Yankees are telling Alex Rodriguez to start learning the position. 

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Might I suggest someone else though. Someone who is up for Rule V draft protection. Someone who is 26 (yes I know the Yankees aren’t supposed to have anyone in the starting lineup whose age begins with a two). This guy is a first baseman and between Double-A and Triple-A, he had a .300/.391/.550 line with 30 doubles, 26 homers and 74 RBI.

That man is Kyle Roller, the former eighth round pick and big slugging first baseman.

Yes, the AL champion Royals (yeah I know it’s weird) didn’t hit any homers this year, but when it counted, they mashed some big flies and that’s what you have to do come postseason and during the regular season. Roller has mashed at every level.

The one thing that may hold him back is that he doesn’t play another position. Even at first there are questions about how good defensively he is.

On a team lacking both youth and power, it’s frustrating to see kids who have both not get their chance to shine. I fully expect Roller to be protected from the Rule V draft, and given every opportunity to be the in case of emergency break glass option at first in 2015.