Yankees: Tyler Wade’s skillset can separate him from the pack

After working out this offseason with Hall-of-Famer to be Albert Pujols, the results are beginning to show for Yankees infielder Tyler Wade and his ever-growing confidence.

It’s not every day that a three-time MVP who has hit over 600 home runs takes an opposing player under his wing. But that’s precisely what happened this winter when Albert Pujols took a shine to Tyler Wade of the Yankees.

Working out with the same trainer in Southern California, Pujols approached the 23-year-old Wade and asked if he’d like to hit together. For Wade, getting the opportunity to pick the brain of a career .305 hitter over the span of 17 big league seasons was awe-inspiring.

As Wade recently told Randy Miller of NJ.com:

“Just the way he works, everything’s consistent and with ease,” Wade said. “I loved being around him watching him and sitting down with him in the gym talking, picking his brain. He’s been around the game 20 years and when he talks about baseball, he lights up. This was great for me.”

One day in the batting cage, Pujols noticed that Wade was having trouble handling inside pitches. Pujols suggested moving his hands higher, and opening up his front side — allowing Wade to get the bat head out in front of the plate quicker, turning on the ball with more regularity.

Through 14 at-bats this spring, the adjustments Wade has made at the plate have been noticeable. The 2013 fourth-round draft pick is much more confident at the plate, slashing .357/.444/.429 with two RBI, three walks and three runs scored.

Wade’s game has always been predicated on speed, but as Billy Hamilton of the Reds knows, in order to use those wheels, you must get on base. Having stolen 119 bases in five minor league seasons, Wade brings an asset to the club that isn’t as prevalent in the game as it once was.

Even still, speed kills. It’s the one attribute the Yankees currently lack. The ability to turn a single into a double; to make a pitcher uneasy when he’s on the bump because the runner on first is a threat to steal.

You can’t teach speed. You either have it, or you don’t. Sure, players can learn how to run the bases better — to cut corners and shave milliseconds off their time going from first to third, but a true base stealer, like Ricky Henderson, Vince Coleman and now Billy Hamilton will always find their way into a major league lineup.

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During Sunday afternoon’s 9-1 Grapefruit League loss to the Rays, Wade’s crucial other skill was on display — his silky smooth glove.

Wade, playing his original position of shortstop, sucked up two incredibly hard-hit balls with the greatest of ease. For a moment, I saw the second-coming of Brandon Crawford, without the flowing locks.

Unfortunately for Wade, he’s in an organization with other highly-regarded shortstops. From Didi Gregorius, a man that is establishing himself as a top-10 position player in the league, to the top overall Yankees’ prospect, Gleyber Torres — who is being converted into a second baseman.

Because of the log-jam of infielders, including the recently acquired Brandon Drury, Miguel Andujar, Ronald Torreyes and Thairo Estrada; Wade can ill-afford to have many off-days.

Due to the offensive craze baseball has embraced, young players must do it all to stand out from the competition. Very rarely will you see a guy with all glove and no stick in the starting nine.

And that’s the thing about Wade; he is capable of honing all the necessary attributes to succeed at the major league level. The kid has a high baseball acumen, exceptional speed and baserunning ability, a wonderful glove at a number of different positions and a terrific throwing arm to boot.

Should Wade’s bat catch up to the rest of his game, there’s no reason he can’t supplant someone like Gleyber Torres on the 25-man roster.

I know, it’s heresy to say such a thing about a highly-regarded prospect such as Torres, especially when Wade has only once before appeared on a top-100 prospects board. But there’s that thing scouts used to rely upon — old-timers call it the eye test.

If a player looks good, it must mean he is. Albert Pujols saw it. That’s not enough for you?

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So keep your sights firmly planted on the kid currently wearing No. 39. With a keen batter’s eye, and quick wrists through the zone that allow for extra coverage of the plate, you may see more of Tyler Wade in 2018 than you ever thought possible.