When Should The Yankees Call Up Andres Chaparro?
Spring Training is always an exciting time for the Yankees, as fans get to see their deep prospect pool on display.
Players such as Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez and Clarke Schmidt are a part of GM Brian Cashman’s plans for the future, and so far they’ve been showing the promise that the organization sees in them.
However, Spring Training also provides opportunities for lesser-known prospects to prove themselves. One of these prospects is third baseman/first baseman Andres Chaparro.
On the Yankees’ Top 50 Prospects List on Prospects 1500, Chaparro was only ranked 26th. But he’s in prime position to ascend up that list after a fantastic 2022 season with the Somerset Patriots in Double A-ball.
In 64 games and 239 at-bats, Chaparro hit .289 with 19 home runs (which led the team) and a .963 OPS. His 25 walks contributed to a .369 on-base percentage, his 142 total bases gave him a .594 slugging percentage, and he stole three bases (without getting caught once) for good measure.
Chaparro hasn’t played with the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders yet, but he has likely earned that promotion from his Spring Training performance. Entering Monday, he has a .286 batting average, six RBIs, two home runs, and a 1.089 OPS in 14 at-bats. One of those homers was a grand slam. Although Spring Training numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, the numbers indicate that Chaparro not only can handle higher-level pitching, but he’s ready to face it.
However, after Monday's Grapefruit League game, Chaparro was among four players to be reassigned to minor league camp. Despite his hot camp, this move was not surprising since he hasn't even reached the Triple-A level yet.
The Yankees currently have four players who can play the hot corner at the major league level; Josh Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Oswaldo Cabrera. But even with that crowded position, there’s still room for Chaparro if he continues his success. LeMahieu, Kiner-Falefa and Cabrera all have positional versatility, while LeMahieu has battled injuries and Kiner-Falefa lacks power and discipline. Donaldson, on the other hand, is coming off a poor 2022.
Last year, the Yankees benefited immensely from Oswaldo Cabrera’s call-up in August. Cabrera parlayed a strong Triple-A performance into 157 at-bats in the big leagues; His versatility on defense, switch-hitting ability, and respectable power made him such a valuable asset that the Yankees were able to shake off a late-season slump and win the AL East before eventually falling in the ALCS.
Chaparro isn’t major league ready just yet, as he still needs to replicate his Double-A numbers with the Railriders. But if he does, it would make perfect sense for Cashman to call him up in the summer, as the success of Cabrera and fellow prospect Oswald Peraza are evident of the jolt that young talent can provide in a stretch run.
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