Injuries continue to hold one stud Yankees prospect back from success

New York Yankees, Albert Abreu
LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Albert Abreu (87) of the Tigers delivers a pitch to the plate during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers on February 27, 2017 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The New York Yankees will journey into Spring Training with some of the best prospects in baseball, but injuries have held several of them back from reaching their potential.

One player that has lagged in recent seasons is Albert Abreu, who was acquired in the Brian McCann trade with the Astros.

According to MLB.com, “Abreu has shown frontline-starter upside when healthy,” but the reality is, three consecutive seasons of injuries have held back his development and potential as a starter. After appearing in just 23 games in 2019, he’s a player to keep an eye on during the spring.

The right handed-pitcher is 24-years-old, and he posted an elevated 4.28 ERA over 23 games last season. His 5-8 record shouldn’t be dramatized, but his exception velocity has lacked the necessary accuracy. Abreu boasts a high-90s fastball and a fantastic changeup, giving him the one-two punch pitchers often succeed with at the top level.

Do the Yankees have a spot for him on the 40-man roster:

The 2020 season doesn’t offer much opportunity for players like Abreu and Estevan Florial, who have both suffered through various injuries, ultimately hurting their consistency. With the signing of Gerrit Cole, the starting pitching rotation is entirely built out. It’s so strong that Jordan Montgomery, who pitched two seasons of sub-.400 ERA baseball before 2019 was left off the 5-man rotation. J.A. Happ earned the final slot, which inevitably pushed Abreu far down the list of potential call-ups.

With Abreu’s talent comes skeptics, and the rising of Deivi Garcia has quieted his optimism. However, some have compared the young arm to Yankees No. 2 pitcher Luis Severino from the past.

NJ.com detailed his relationship with Severino and how he helped him last year:

The 2018 Abreu is a lot like the 2015 Severino as a budding prospect out of the D.R. with a great arm and tremendous potential. Abreu is very aware of the similarities and is using his time around Severino this spring wisely.

 Abreu on Severino:

“To have Severino here … he was in my shoes a few years ago and now he has the experience,” Abreu said. “It’s definitely a great situation for me to have somebody around like that to ask questions. He’s a guy that I talk to and get advice from any time I have a question.

“I feel comfortable going to him asking certain things, and he’ll tell me to do it this way or that way. He gives tips and advice when we’re eating or on the field. When I get back out there and pitch, I’ll put those to use.”