Martin Prado: The Yankees Proven 2B Option

For Martin Prado, playing for the Yankees is a dream come true. And that attitude is only part of what makes him the Yankees best option at second base in 2015.

“I think everybody dreams to play for the Yankees,¨ he said according to MLBlogs.com.¨And I never expected that in my career.”

And he has made the best of his opportunity. In 37 games with the Yankees in 2014, Prado batted .316 with seven home runs and 16 RBI. And his career .981 fielding percentage at the position gives the Yanks the reliability they are looking for.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise, since consistency has been a hallmark of his career. He finished in the top ten in the National League in hits in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He has a career .291 batting average. In his final ten games for the Yanks in 2014, he batted .441, showing he is ready to be a big factor next season.

Of course, there are those that speculate the Yankees should look elsewhere. But Stephen Drew and Brendan Ryan have not shown nearly enough at the plate. And they are both really short stops. Jose Pirela  did hit .333 in seven games, but his .305 at Scranton Wilkes-Barre indicates he may not maintain that over a full season. And Rob Refsnyder, with all of his promise, has not shown numbers that match the power production Prado provided. Admitedly, Martin has not shown that power throughout his career, but what matters is what he can produce in Yankee Stadium.

What the Yanks get from Prado is contact. He puts the ball in play. Of course, that moves runners and contributes to what the Yankees need badly-runs. And consistency is something that past Yankees second baseman like Bobby Richardson and Willie Randolph have also been known for. That is not to say that Prado has yet earned a spot beside them, but let´s give him some more time before we judge that. He certainly has gotten off to an exciting start.