Yankees: The real reason Brandon Drury is stuck in the minors

Much to his chagrin, Brandon Drury named to the International League All-Star team. However, there is a real possibility that the Yankees recall him in just five days, once his 50 days of minor league service time constraints are met.

Many Yankees fans have been shaking their heads in frustration — watching the likes of Neil Walker and Greg Bird struggle at the plate while hearing all about Brandon Drury’s offensive exploits down at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Almost every report details Drury’s inexperience at playing first base as the primary reason why he’s stuck in baseball exile. And while it’s true that he’s only manned the position once at the big league level (2016), he actually played the position in 55 games (461.1 innings) for Single-A Rome in 2012. 

Thus far through four games (33 innings) at first base for the RailRiders, Drury has yet to commit an error, making 23 putouts and three assists while turning two double plays.

So stating that Drury doesn’t know his way around the bag isn’t entirely accurate — just that he hasn’t done it in a while, especially at a more advanced level of ball.

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The reality of Drury’s state of limbo is directly linked to service time. Much like Gleyber Torres, whom the Yankees refused to admit was being kept in the minors until late April because of contract status, it’s an annoyingly obvious situation.

According to Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues, should the 25-year-old Drury spend 50 days this season in the minors, the Yankees would garner another season of contractual control. While it’s smart business, it stinks for the player. Especially for a guy that is slashing .315/.419/.494 with 13 doubles, five home runs and 28 RBI in 168 at-bats.

If my math is correct, as of Thursday, that leaves Drury with just five more days down on the farm until the Yankees gain that extra year of control and call recall him without hesitation. Unfortunately, that also means we won’t see him in pinstripes for the much-anticipated Red Sox series.

Other notable players with a ticking service time clock include Tommy Kahnle (eight days remaining), Clint Frazier (58 more days), Tyler Wade (30 days) and Ronald Torreyes (12 days).

With Drury letting the baseball world know he wants out of Scranton, I wonder how he took the news about making the International League All-Star team? After all, this is the fourth time in his minor league career that he’s received such an accolade. For a guy that’s already spent parts of four seasons in the majors, I doubt he’s stoked. 

Drury will be joined by his RailRiders teammate and Yankees No. 15 prospect Cody Carroll, as the Independent League take on the All-Stars from the Pacific Coast League in Columbus, Ohio on July 11.

However, I don’t see Drury taking part in any minor league All-Star festivities.

Looking at the massive hole of offensive production from Walker (.185/.261/.259 with two home runs, 14 RBIs and 41 Ks in 162 at-bats ) and Bird (.191/.308/.392 with three home runs, six RBIs and 29 Ks in 89 at-bats ), I can’t see how or why the Yanks wouldn’t install Drury at first base — even in a part-time capacity (that’s for the Greg Bird apologists out there).

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While the extra year of team control makes Drury that much more of an attractive trade chip, with the way he’s currently producing in the minors, there’s something to be said for him helping the Yankees right now. I just hope we see Drury in the Bronx in five days time.