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Yankees News: Jose Pirela the Savior?

By Michael Cambria

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Jose Pirela will be activated from the disabled list and inserted into Wednesday’s lineup for the rubber match against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Pirela, the 25-year-old utility man was having a superb spring training until he was diagnosed with a concussion after crashing into the center-field wall while tracking down an fly ball in an exhibition game v. the New York Mets. He took live batting practice and was given a locker in the Yankees clubhouse on Tuesday.

With Pirela set to start against the Jays, the question now becomes where?

Obviously his best position is second base, and with Stephen Drew struggling  to a .149/.235/.351 slash line, maybe it’s time the Yankees sit the veteran down. The Yankees might even elect to shift Drew over to short stop to replace the struggling Didi Gregorius, who’s posted a .213/.277/.240 slash line thus far. There’s even an outside chance that the Yankees try and use Pirela in the outfield to take the place of the incognito Carlos Beltran, but if that’s the case we’ll all have to hold our  breath any time Pirela is chasing down a fly ball.

But the bottom line is this. The Yankees need to find a way to somehow keep Jose Pirela in their lineup every day in order for him to thrive. Calling him up to be the next Gregorio Petit and occasionally start off the bench is pointless. His bat is simply too good and it will hamper his development. Through four games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during his rehab assignment, Pirela went 11-for-19 (.579) with one home run, four RBIs, one walk and zero strikeouts. Yes the sample size is small, but all this guy does is hit. In seven games with the Yankees as a September call-up in 2014, Pirela was 8-for-24 (.333) with three extra-base hits and three RBIs.

If Pirela manages to stay healthy, he can be a huge asset for the Yankees. Perhaps he’ll be the first guy in the wave of Yankees prospects we all hear about as we approach the future.

But for now, all eyes will be on the 25-year old on Wednesday night when he makes his 2015 season debut with the New York Yankees.

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