Yankees rookie Rob Refsnyder is taking his lumps at third base
If you’ve ever wondered why third base is considered the hot corner, New York Yankees rookie Rob Refsnyder can explain it without even saying a word. All you have to do is look at the blood and bruises on his face to understand the hazards that go along with playing that position.
In consecutive games on Friday and Saturday, Refsnyder was forced to leave early after taking a bad-hop ground ball to the face. But those cuts and bruises only symbolize the physical pain of a bigger battle Refsnyder is determined to win.
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Refsnyder, who turned 25 years old on Saturday, wants to make the major league roster. Right now he’s in a battle for the 25th spot along with veteran infielder Pete Kozma and prospect Ronald Torreyes. Playing third base is an attempt to improve his versaility and perhaps create more value in the eyes of manager Joe Girardi, which could give him a leg up. As these last two days have shown though, there’s a price to be paid for taking on rough new waters.
Refsnyder came up through the Yankees system primarily as a second baseman, though he’s also spent time in the outfield. Third base though is an entirely different animal compared to those positions. He had to know the transition would be rough, but he probably didn’t envision it being quite this rough.
Take Saturday’s play for example. Toronto’s Roemon Fields’ ripped a grounder that started low but popped up at just the wrong moment, striking Refsnyder in the face. The play was ruled a hit, and it certainly was a direct hit, but that’s probably of little consolation to Refsnyder. He left to celebrate his birthday with a swollen cheek, to go along with a throwing error earlier in the game.
As for Friday’s play.
Anytime a ground ball draws blood, that’s a rough day at the office. That was also the second of Refsnyder’s two errors in Friday’s game.
It hasn’t been pretty, but it does seem as though Refsnyder is earning Girardi’s respect. When asked about his struggles, Girardi placed more blame on the field conditions, while indicating that Refsnyder has looked OK.
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“It’s what happens,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It gets hot and it gets late and the infields get hard and fast, and you get some bad hops. It’s unfortunate.”
Though he’s regarded as a superb hitter, Refsnyder has struggled a bit this spring hitting just .242/.286/.363 with one home run. He’ll need his defense in order to make an impact, but he may be running out of time to improve and impress.
What shouldn’t be questioned though is his determination to succeed. Learning third base on the fly is as tough a challenge as there is in baseball, and he definitely deserves a nod for even trying it. And should he ultimately win a spot on the Yankees roster, one could argue it was hardest earned roster spot in any camp this spring.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
