Faded top prospect's Yankees rebirth is stealing attention from Anthony Volpe rehab

It's unlikely. It's probably not going to amount to much. But ... if jaded New York Yankees fans have already convinced themselves that Oswald Peraza is "a problem" because of one great series after three awful years in the Bronx, then maybe, just maybe, 24-year-old Marco Luciano isn't done yet, either.

With all eyes on Somerset this week to watch Anthony Volpe (and his new swing?), another challenger for our attention has emerged in Luciano, a former top-15 prospect in the game who bounced from the Giants to the Pirates to the Orioles to the Yankees on the waiver wire this winter. When the Yankees cut him loose, he thankfully passed through waivers and returned to their minor-league system instead of hooking on elsewhere. We're very glad he did.

Yes, Luciano is a former MLB player currently trying to find himself at Double-A. But the competition at that level is often stronger than what's available at the highest level of the minors. Triple-A has its fair share of washouts and struggling tweeners stuck between the big leagues and the end of their careers. Double-A is packed with much more pedigree — and, again, Luciano is just 24. Until proven otherwise, it's possible he required a new home and a total reset to tap into his considerable tools (much like Peraza).

And while the Somerset social media buzz was mostly focused on Volpe catching a routine pop-up, Luciano went dead center for his second home run of the game, finishing the contest with a 1.250 OPS. It's at least plausible that there's something there. Check how effortless this is.

Giants, Orioles, Pirates really couldn't find room for Marco Luciano? Ok, then.

If the Yankees have uncovered something real with Luciano, then they'll be able to lord it over the Giants, the organization that raised him and can't find a lick of offense, as well as the Pirates (relying on an injured Jared Triolo to polish off their infield) and the Orioles (a relatively stacked offense, to be sure, but still ... division rival to division rival).

Where might he fit with the Yankees? They've been eternally bereft at third base, and there's no long-term second base solution in the system behind Jazz Chisholm Jr., either. But that's a conversation for another day. "Where can Luciano START with the Yankees?" is an even more ridiculous chat than, "We might, possibly, a little little bit ... have something here."

For now, let's just enjoy that there's something delicious going on below the surface that doesn't involve George Lombard Jr. or the pitching program.

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