MINNEAPOLIS — Yangervis Solarte, who helped the Yankees stay afloat in April and May but slumped badly toward the end of the second month and most of June, was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday to make room for Zelous Wheeler, who was called up and homered Thursday.
Infielder Dean Anna, who began the season with the Yankees, was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Wheeler.
Girardi said the message to Solarte was to go down and “get back on track.’’
After hitting .303 (23-for-76) in April, the switch-hitting Solarte batted .296 (29-for-98) in May and was the feel-good story of baseball after spending eight years in the minors without a big-league sniff. Then June came and he batted .164 (10-for-61).
Enter Wheeler, who started Thursday. But according to Girardi, the left-handed hitting Kelly Johnson will get playing time at third.
Because of the short notice, Wheeler’s family couldn’t make the trip from Birmingham, Ala., but will be in Cleveland next week when the Yankees play four games against the Indians.
Wheeler spent the past two seasons bouncing between Double-A and Triple–A in the Orioles’ system. He batted .299 (11-for-37) in 24 spring training games for the Yankees.