2014 Staten Island Yankees Player Profile: Brady Steiger

Baby Bomber Brady Steiger-Mandatory Credit: lcwarriors.com

Here at Yanks Go Yard, we are going to be giving you the fans, a look at a different prospect each week. The Staten Island Yankees are the short-season Single-A Team, with most of the players fairly new to the pro ball experience.

We are 11 games into the 2014 season, and the Baby Bombers have a 6-5 record. One of the problems Staten Island has had this season, is the lack of home run power. With just two home runs, the team is tied for the fewest in the league. One of the two players with a home run is 23-year-old infielder Brady Steiger.

While Steiger is only hitting .207 on the season, he is one of the better run-producers on the team up to this point. He has four RBI’s (tied for second), six hits (tied for fifth), a .345 slugging percentage and a 648 OPS, which is fourth on the team in each of those two categories.

As we noted in the recap on Sunday afternoon, Steiger had one of the best games for Staten Island this season. He went 3-for-4 with a home run, and four RBI in SI’s 10-6 win over Hudson Valley. Manager Mario Garza has tried Steiger at a variety of different positions this season. Through nine games, Garza has played him at first base, third base, left field, and designated hitter.

Steiger was an undrafted free agent, signed by the Yankees in July of 2013. For the 2013 season, he played his college baseball at Lewis-Clark State, a NAIA college in Lewiston, Idaho. During that season, the Staten Island infielder hit .430 with 89 hits, five home runs, and 49 RBI in 57 games.

He has only played in 26 games in his pro ball career, but as we also noted on Sunday, Garza values the competitive part of his game. These were the manager’s comments after Steiger had an 11-pitch at-bat in the first inning on Saturday that culminated in a two-run home run to right field.

"“Brady is one of the best competitors that we have in the box,” said Garza about Steiger’s first at-bat. “I couldn’t be happier for Brady.”"

In covering the team, there is one question I always like to ask the players early on in the season. After Saturday night’s win, I asked Steiger about his thoughts on how his first week in Staten Island has gone:

"“I love it here.… It has exceeded my expecations,” said Steiger about his experiences so far. “I love hitting here.”"