By Paul Semendinger
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The race to determine who was the best Yankee to wear #90 may not be determined for a long time or it might be determined as soon as next season.
Currently, it’s not a close race. But, in time, the player who is a distant second could take over the top spot.
To begin, let’s look at the leader – Thairo Estrada:
Games – 61
At Bats – 112
Hits – 24
HR – 4
RBI – 15
AVG – .214
Positions Played – 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF, DH
Thairo Estrada is a young kid, he is just 24-years-old, so he has his whole future ahead of him.
While the numbers above are not overly impressive, he has been a member of the Yankees for the last two seasons, and at times, has seen like a player who just might break out a bit.
The biggest problem for Estrada is that he does not seem to have a position to play. At this point, he is slated to be a reserve player at best. But, crazier things have happened then having a player who is slated to be a back-up take over a position because a need arises. If that happens and Estrada holds on to that position, he wouldn’t be the first player to come out of nowhere to do that. Most recently, Gio Urshela did just that at third base.
Thairo Estrada was the first Yankee to ever wear #90 in a game and with 61 games played, he has a strong lead over his only competition for best ever at uniform #90.
But the player he is ahead of has always been projected as a possible future star.
First, the only number that counts:
Games – 1
Yes, for now, the runner-up player to Estrada has worn #90 in only one game as a Yankee, the only game of his big league career to date.
That player is Estevan Florial.
There are many that believe that Florial will be a star. He is one of the Yankees’ highest ranked prospects. He is a multi-tool player who, if he can figure out the curve ball, and stay healthy, could be a star. A left-handed batter with power and speed, and great defensive tools, Estevan Florial may have a very bright future in pinstripes that could begin as early as next season.
To take over the top spot here, he would just need a few weeks of solid play, which is very possible.
But, also possible is the fact that he could be traded this winter. Or, just a likely, if Estevan Florial makes the Yankees in 2021, he could he issued a different uniform number.
There is a possibility that both Florial and Estrada are both on the Yankees in 2021. There is just as much of a likelihood and neither wear pinstripes in 2021 or ever again.
For now, it is clear that the greatest Yankee to wear #90 is Thairo Estrada, but this one could change often and quickly.
Stay tuned!
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(Most of the research for this project comes from Baseball-Reference.com.)
