The last we heard of New York Yankees prospect Estevan Florial, he was torturing Nationals right-handed pitcher Hunter Strickland in a spring game. Florial ripped a 97 MPH fastball down the third-base line into the corner. The hit put the Yankees ahead by three and secured a 6-3 victory over Washington. This was the final game before MLB shut down operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Baseball America noted that Florial is in desperate need of a bounce-back year, and the delay of the season undoubtedly hurt his progression. However, the Yankees could give him the opportunity of a lifetime to feature on the 30-man roster during a shortened 60-game campaign.
Few prospects are in bigger need of a rebound than Florial, who has missed chunks of time over the last two years with broken bones in his right wrist. When he’s been on the field, he’s suffered from a lack of strike-zone discipline and the corresponding timing issues that come with such long layoffs. He still has the raw tools to be a productive major leaguer—he went 1-for-2 on Friday—but needs to show some results this season, which will likely begin (at some point) in Double-A Trenton.
Florial is considered one of the best prospects in the Yankees farm system and has been rated that way for quite some time. However, injuries have significantly limited his development and progression as an athlete and baseball player. The Yankees decided to put him on the 40-man roster this off-season, and while it is a longshot, he lands an active spot in a shortened season, nothing is impossible.
The Dominican Republic native played in 74 games with Tampa Bay in 2019. Over 301 plate appearances, he posted eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and tallied a .237 batting average. His offense has struggled significantly, but his defense at centerfield as been solid. Over 529 innings in the outfield last season, he posted a .973 fielding percentage and allowed four errors.
He has the potential to be a fantastic professional player, but health has been his major concern. He’s broken his wrist twice and suffered other ailments, but if he can remain healthy this year, the Yankees could find a place for him on the active roster. While I believe it is a longshot, they could swap him in considering the condensed schedule that will require players to feature frequently. Fatigue remains a serious concern for players, and having alternatives like Estevan prepared is only a positive.