Jun 22, 2017; Omaha, NE, USA; Louisville Cardinals outfielder Josh Stowers (25) drives in a run in the third inning against the TCU Horned Frogs at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds in return for second-base prospect Shed Long and a high draft pick.
Immediately following the conclusion of the deal, Long was traded to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Josh Stowers. With Gleyber Torres supplanting himself as the team’s future second-baseman, it made Long expendable, as they must have seen a flaw they didn’t like and were looking for a different skill-set.
Stowers currently sits in the Low-A Northwest League, displaying great speed and on-base running. He’s also a solid defender that could offer value in the future if his hitting develops.
The farm-system player was drafted just last year, which is why the Yankees are probably so high on the second-rounder. Adding speedy players with good base running to the roster is a major positive, especially for a team that relies so much on home runs.
In 2018, Stowers batted .260 with 5 homers, 52 hits and 28 RBIs over 200 at-bats. Not a bad showing from the 21-year-old. He has plenty of time to develop his game and climb the ranks with the Yankees’ farm-teams.
Personally, I like this deal a lot, as the Yankees outfield is aging and planning for the future seems to be a solid move. Hopefully, his talents will pay off down the road.
This post was published on 2019-01-22 08:51
