Yankees: 4 surprise prospects whose hot starts we’re watching

2. Trevor Hauver

The Yankees selected Trevor Hauver in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Arizona State as a roving infielder/outfielder, someone who could theoretically fill in at second, third and the outfield.

We understand if you didn’t notice. There was a lot going on in 2020, after all.

Hauver has arrived on the scene in Tampa for his first pro season and immediately started raking, though, which certainly merits your attention. Paired atop the 2020 class with Austin Wells, another college bat and supposed fast-riser, Hauver’s first two games featured a 5-for-6 effort with three dingers and five walks, a two-game output that’s almost ludicrous in its dominance. Congratulations to the one guy who retired Hauver, and no congratulations to whoever worked together to give him 11 plate appearances in two games.

Guess what? In Hauver’s third game? He homered again, walked again, and ended 8-for-10.

This is a large-scale professional stadium Hauver’s been cracking baseballs out of, too. It’s where the Yankees played their spring training games. Certainly not a bandbox.

As Views From 314 Ft. wrote when Hauver was drafted, this is a collegiate player who shook off a bad freshman season and raked as a sophomore and junior, leading off ahead of No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson.

"His freshman slump didn’t carry over to his sophomore season. Hauver spent most of the season in the leadoff spot and recorded an impressive .339/.433/.574 triple-slash along with 13 dingers in 289 plate appearances. Then, in his brief junior year, the left-handed hitter socked 5 homers in 83 trips to the dish while hitting .339/.494/.695."

Needless to say, after trading Mike Tauchman and watching the twilight of Brett Gardner’s career, the Yankees could absolutely use a versatile bench bat who can play multiple positions and isn’t Tyler Wade. Watch this space.