New York Yankees Prospect Profile: Number 28 Thairo Estrada

As we continue our New York Yankees prospect profile series, we move down the pipeline to 28th ranked prospect Thairo Estrada.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Unlike the first two prospects we covered, the 20-year old Thairo Estrada comes to the Yankees as an under-the-radar international prospect from Venezuela who signed with the club for $49,000 in 2012 when Brian Cashman was on an international spending spree.

That year the Yankees also signed international prospects like Miguel Andujar, Luis Torrens and of course Luis Severino for much more than $49,000, so it’s easy to see why Estrada was a bit lost in the shuffle.

Estrada made his rookie-ball debut in 2013 with the Gulf Coast Yankees and slashed an impressive .278/.350/.432 with a .782 OPS, two home runs, 18 extra-base hits, seven stolen bases and 17 RBI in 199 plate appearances.

Unfortunately he missed most of 2014 with a groin strain, but he returned in 2015 without skipping a beat.

In 63 games played out on Staten Island with the ‘Baby Bomber’, the 5’10” 155 pound infield utility-man slashed .267/.338/.360 with a .698 OPS, including 19 extra-base hits, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases over 279 plate-appearances.

While Estrada started off at shortstop with Gulf Coast, the Yankees used him primarily as a second baseman in Staten Island after 2015 first round draft pick Kyle Holder came to town. According to MLB Pipeline, Estrada is a reliable defender with solid range, quick hands and a strong arm.

Estrada makes consistent line-drive contact and has shown tremendous plate discipline, and as long he continues to get on base and wreak havoc on the base path as he rises through the minor leagues, he might one day find himself in the major leagues as a contact hitter.

While I still consider Estrada a sleeper prospect, he’s certainly a young player to keep an eye on in 2016!