Yankees state of the system: Third Base

Triple-A

Next, there’s Jace Peterson, who is also competing for the second base job as well. But if he misses out, Peterson, like Espinosa, might even figure in at third base for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Peterson’s started 15 games at third base over parts of four major league seasons, both with San Diego and Atlanta.

Mike Calendrillo broke down the Yankees’ signing of Peterson for Yanks Go Yard back in January.

Other candidates for the Triple-A third base job are Billy Fleming, who’s started 43 games there over four minor league seasons and Abiatal Avelino, who’s started 20 games across five seasons.

Peterson, Fleming and Avelino are further outlined in the second base preview, posted last week.

One prominent player who wasn’t mentioned in that piece — because of length — was soon-to-be-22-year-old Thairo Estrada.

According to MLB.com, Estrada ranked as the Yankees’ 16th-best prospect at the end of 2017.

He’s a speedy contact hitter with the versatility to play above-average defense at all three infield positions. Across five minor league seasons, Estrada has at least 50 starts at each of second, short and third — though, the majority of his innings have been at shortstop.

Estrada, who played all of 2017 at Double-A, started just three games at third base for the Thunder.

He had an excellent offensive season, posting or matching career highs pretty much across the board. He slapped his way to a .301/.353/.392 batting line with more than a handful of extra-base hits (39) and very few strikeouts (56 in 495 at-bats).

For a full write-up on Estrada, stay tuned for the upcoming shortstop preview.