Yankees Tyler Wade Could Challenge Starlin Castro Next Season

Double-A infielder Tyler Wade could push his way onto the New York Yankees roster in 2017, maybe even challenging second baseman Starlin Castro for his starting job.

21-year-old shortstop Tyler Wade has continued his steady climb up the New York Yankees minor league ladder in 2016. His production is never eye-popping, but he has been a consistently solid performer every year since the team took him in the fourth round of the 2013 June amateur draft.

Through 119 games with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, Wade is hitting .274/.372/.371 (113 wRC+) with five home runs and 23 stolen bases in 520 plate appearances.

That is more or less his prototypical season at this point. Good contact skills, lots of walks, very little power. He has the skills to be a table-setter at the top of a lineup if he reaches his ceiling, but might more realistically be a scrappy number nine type hitter.

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The Yankees have split Wade’s time between second and shortstop this season, and it seems like he could handle either position well at the big league level. He’s still pretty error prone, with 24 through 96 games in the field, but has all the tools to be an above average fielder.

MLB Pipeline ranks Tyler Wade as the 15th overall prospect in the Yankees system, noting his “quick feet and hands” and “solid arm strength” on defense. In addition, they emphasize his excellent work ethic and leadership skills, comparing him to former All-Star Walt Weiss.

Wade seems poised to make a jump to the big leagues at some point next year depending on how quickly the Yankees want to push him. It couldn’t be a moment too soon, as New York’s second baseman Starlin Castro has been a major disappointment during his first season in pinstripes.

Even after a recent hot streak, Castro has barely been above replacement level (0.5 fWAR) through 121 games for the Yankees this season. He’s hitting .261/.296/.411 (87 wRC+). His plate discipline has been atrocious and he has shown zero willingness to change his approach.

Wade could be an appealing option for a Yankees front office that has been very focused on improving team defense in recent years. Castro is also very expensive for what he brings to the table, so cost-conscious ownership could look to unload his contract while he still has a whiff of his former potential clinging to him.

Tyler Wade may not be the biggest name or have the loudest tools in the Yankees system, but he looks close to being a solid regular in the big leagues, possibly by next year.