New York Yankees’ former top shortstop prospect, Estevan Florial, will be fighting to survive with the Yanks in the upcoming spring training.
The 2023 MLB season spring training will take place in less than two weeks. New York Yankees are all geared up and will report at the organization’s camp base in Tampa, Florida. The catchers and pitchers are called in on February 16, and the rest of the squad is likely to join later. For the Yanks, the spring training is extremely vital as they face an uphill task of fixing the roster and almost building it from scratch.
The Yankees are currently missing a few specialists on the roster. Hence, the front office decided to call in as many as 69 rosters as well as non-roster players to audition in the spring training. Moreover, for some players, the situation is do or die as they could get ousted post the training session. One such player is the Yankees’ former number 1 shortstop prospect, Estevan Florial.
Estevan Florial Struggling, Could Face The Axe Soon
Estevan Florial, a young 25-year-old pitcher, joined the New York Yankees with a lot of hope and dreams. The shortstop excelled in minor league and eventually made his major league debut in 2020. The outfielder, who was once considered the promising future of the Yankees, quickly fell off the ranks. His promotion into the major league worked against him as he suffered constant injuries.
Florial, an outfielder, has shown flashes of potential but has struggled with consistency and injuries, which may be hindering his development and chances of making the team. Last season, Estevan played 17 games and clocked an average of .097 with a .200 OBP in 35 plate appearances. On top of that, as the competition is growing, it remains to be seen if he will be able to overcome these obstacles and secure a spot on the Yankees roster this season. If not, Florial will have to exit the Yanks, as he does not have a minor league contract.
Fans React As Estevan Faces Contract Termination
Meanwhile, the fans are divided on the Estevan Florial situation. While some back the shortstop due to his age, other wants the 25-year-old out, claiming he has had enough opportunities to prove himself. While the fans debate, Estevan is looking out for his career in baseball on the other hand. He has to give in all he has in the spring training to make the cut in the final 40.
Estevan Florial will face competition from Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. Both the youngsters found a place in this year’s top shortstop prospect rankings. While Volpe has hyped up the minor league scenes, Peraza has experience on his side. Hence, the shortstop competition within the Yankees camp will be exciting as all the young guns gear up to fight for the crucial spot.