Key Spotlight - Rob Refsynder

Anyone remember this former Yankee prospect that fell from grace after a crowded outfield of Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, and other prospects leaving Ref out to dry?

Rewind Robinson Cano on his last contract year with the Yankees. Yankee GM Brian Cashman with a depleted farm system asked top 5 prospect Rob Refsynder to go to 2nd base to try it out. Who was for most of his life an outfielder. Including a College World Series outfielder for the University of Arizona Wildcats.

After “a year to learn the footwork” Said some scouts, it ended up slowing down his development and severely attacking his confidence.

2nd base, awkward.

3rd base. Well, looked downright uncomfortable and on his birthday in Spring Training took a one-hop off his face and had to get checked out at the hospital.

Even still, they liked his bat. In fact, his first home run was over the Green Monster in Boston. His bat was good. Except this questions at defense his whole call up to the show for DH or defense there was plenty of competition in 2013-2015. Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, and Slade Heathcott to name a few. Notice four of those mentioned are outfielders with Gardner freshly inking a contract and Ellsbury in Center Field milking payroll for years.

Then during a Mark Teixeira injury they gave him the call to play 1st base. Fans panicking. Leading to eventually that year a trade to the Blue Jays.

After that Ref has been floating all around. Rays, Twins, and now here with the Red Sox. After a clutch defensive catcher in Center Field last night against Tampa in a tough lose, Ref will be called upon to step up.

With the outfield rotating and DH being flexible (Justin Turner will need to be rested sometime) his opportunity is finally here. In a position he knows how to play and the bat is there. Is he 32? Yes. But the talent is finally going to be unleashed that no one tapped into for years. Something held back for almost a decade.

Batting leadoff for the Boston Red Sox. #30, Center Fielder, Rob, Refsynder.