I* Marcus Thames’ first big league at-bat, with the Yankees in 2002, he launched a home run against Randy Johnson. Now, in his role as hitting coach for Tampa, the Yankees’ High-A affiliate, Thames is tasked with preparing some of the system’s best prospects for their first ups in The Show.
The first-year instructor, who finished a 10-year career in 2011 with a .246 average and 115 homers (one every 15.9 at-bats), has his share of high-profile youngsters to mentor.
Atop Tampa’s front-loaded lineup is center fielder Mason Williams, the Yankees’ top-rated prospect by Baseball America. The 21-year-old turbo athlete has been in the May doldrums after finishing April with an eye-opening .380 on-base percentage.
“He’s been scuffling a little bit,” Thames said. “His defense is there. He has a world of talent. His hitting has been a little spotty.”
Thames said the key for Williams — and this is a recurring theme — is developing patience at the plate. He had just four walks in the month going into the weekend, and his average had slipped to .236.
“A lot of the guys haven’t failed before,” Thames said. “He’s been a little anxious, swinging at the first pitch, trying to do too much.”
The other stud among Thames’ charges is catcher and cleanup hitter Gary Sanchez, Baseball America’s No. 3 Yankees prospect. The burly, 220-pound 20-year-old had reduced his strikeout rate to 19.6 percent in 2013 from 24.4 percent at Low-A Charleston and Tampa last year.
“Gary’s been patient,” Thames said. “I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s come on this year. He’s been taking the singles to right field — that’s going to serve his well at the next level.”
And Sanchez remains a Stadium-suited power threat. He went into the weekend with eight homers, tied for fifth in the 12-team Florida State League.
“You’re not going to get a lot of guys in this league hitting 20 homers,” Thames said. “He can out to right-center field. … He’s got plenty of power.”
The No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the fully constituted lineup have been occupied for the past week-plus by Angelo Gumbs and Robert Refsnyder, alternating as the second baseman and designated hitter.
Gumbs, 20, the team’s second-round pick in 2010, returned May 16 from a hand injury that cost him more than a month. He was 3-for-34 before being sidelined, then had three three-hit games in his first seven back. The speedster had five doubles and two triples among his first 16 hits.
“He had been swinging at everything,” Thames said. “Once he starts swinging at good pitches, he’s going to be good. He has good pop, uses the whole field.”
Refsnyder, 22, a fifth-round pick last summer out of Arizona, was promoted after spending a mere 13 games at Charleston. A 7-for-40 stretch still left the line-drive hitter with a .315 average and .427 on-base with Tampa, including 12 doubles and one homer.
“He loves to talk baseball, loves to swing it,” Thames said. “He stays short, has a plan, patient — that’s his game.”