ST . PETERSBURG, Fla. — “He’s a nice player,” Joe Maddon said Friday of — who else? — Yangervis Solarte. “But I can’t see too clearly on that call.”
Anyone could say that about the Yankees’ sensational freshman, given how little we know of him still. Obviously, he won’t maintain his current rate of success, as his current .370/.452/.556 slash line probably would get him serious consideration for the American League Most Valuable Player award. But can he defy the odds and, in his age-26 season, become an impactful player?
It always helps to use history as a guide. And the two managers at Tropicana Field — where the Yankees’ five-game winning streak came to a halt with a bullpen-meltdown-fueled, 11-5 loss to the Rays — could offer some personal perspectives on that history.
On Baseball-Reference.com’s player index, I searched for the following profile: 26-year-old rookie who played at least half of his games in the infield and who qualified for the batting title. From 1901 through 2013.
Only 14 players from the prior 113 years fit that description. And only four of those have played since 1960: Chris Sabo, who won National League Rookie of the Year honors for the Reds in 1988; David Eckstein with the 2001 Angels; Dan Uggla with the 2006 Marlins; and Alexei Ramirez with the 2008 White Sox.
Maddon, the Rays’ manager, served as the 2001 Angels’ bench coach, under skipper Mike Scioscia. And Yankees manager Joe Girardi made his managerial debut with the 2006 Marlins, with Uggla helping him win NL Manager of the Year honors.
It’s notable that all of the most recent quartet performed quite well; each of the men finished in the top four on his Rookie of the Year ballot. If you don’t perform quickly as a 26-year-old rookie, your employer likely won’t exhibit much patience with you.
Being a 26-year-old rookie means you bring a considerable track record with you, which leads to you possessing a narrative — wanted or unwanted.
“Sometimes, it’s just about opportunity,” Maddon said Friday. “If you asked Johnny Pesky, he was pushing David [Eckstein] for a long time in the Boston organization. Sometimes you’ve just got to wait your turn. Being in the right spot. Sometimes guys are pretty talented and they might get labeled unfairly.”
Pesky, the legendary Red Sox figure who died in 2012, championed Eckstein while the infielder toiled in the Red Sox’s minor-league system, putting up a superb .440 on-base percentage for Double-A Trenton in 1999. The Angels claimed him on waivers in August of 2000, and the 5-foot-6
Eckstein proceeded to start at shortstop for a pair of championship teams, the 2002 Angels and 2006 Cardinals — and he won World Series Most Valuable Player honors in 2006.
“Not tall enough, didn’t have a good enough arm, hit the ball in the air too much,” Maddon said, recalling the knocks on Eckstein. “Sometimes you’ve got to fight the labels. Then once you get the opportunity, the labels disintegrate.”
Uggla came to Miami in 2006 as a Rule 5 draft pick from the Diamondbacks, who employed the reliable Craig Counsell at second base in 2005 and acquired Orlando Hudson from Toronto for the next campaign.
“There were a lot of players they happened to have at second base. Maybe Danny kind of got lost in the shuffle,” Girardi said. “But we got him, and I thought he was going to be a really good player.”
After just a few games, Girardi said, the only question he had was where to hit Uggla in the lineup.
Uggla hit 27 homers in his rookie season and ultimately got traded to Atlanta and signed a five-year, $62-million contract.
It’s evident Girardi wants to see more of Solarte before making a declaration or prediction. It’s equally evident Solarte will get chances to join this small collection of late bloomers. Provided he stays healthy, as he created a scare Friday when he fouled a ball off his left leg and then stayed in the game.
“The kid has played great, there’s no doubt about it,” Girardi said. “When you play extremely well, you’ll keep playing.”
Solarte, who went 1-for-3 with a walk Friday, spent the prior two seasons at the Triple-A level of the Rangers, who boasted of remarkable infield depth. Ian Kinsler, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus all were durable, and Jurickson Profar served as the heir apparent. With this Yankees team, with the fragile Brian Roberts and less durable Mark Teixeira occupying spots? Solarte will earn the chance to stick around.
“I’m just getting the opportunity now,” Solarte said on Friday.
If he continues to capitalize, someday, Girardi will be reminiscing about him, for he has the chance to be something special.