TRENTON- Tyler Wade is highly thought of throughout the Yankees organization. The smooth-fielding shortstop has been spending some time on the other side of the bag recently, playing some games at second base for the Trenton Thunder With number one prospect Jorge Mateo on the way at some point from Advanced A Tampa, it makes sense that the organization finds out...
TRENTON- Tyler Wade is highly thought of throughout the Yankees organization.
The smooth-fielding shortstop has been spending some time on the other side of the bag recently, playing some games at second base for the Trenton Thunder
With number one prospect Jorge Mateo on the way at some point from Advanced A Tampa, it makes sense that the organization finds out if the pair can play either position. Mateo has been shifted to second base for Tampa as well, in anticipation of his move to Trenton.
Wade was back at shortstop Friday night, as the Thunder, decked out in special pink jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Night, hosted the Reading Fightin Phils in the second of a four-game set.
"I treat second like I treat short," Wade said. "Be aggressive with every ball, and not try to stay back on my heels. I like both of them."
While the positions are similar, there are subtle differences between the two.
"Just the balls off the bat, coming from lefties and righties," Wade said. "The topspin, those are the biggest things. On steals, it is virtually the same thing. You just have to get to the bag quicker, to get around it. You get used to it after a couple games under your belt. It is not that big of a difference to me."
"Wherever the team needs me, I am happy to play," Wade said.
Thunder (18-15) manager Bobby Mitchell has been impressed with Wade at either position.
"(Tyler) is in the same boat (as Mateo)," Mitchell said. "If and when he gets here, that is what they will do, go back and forth. Tyler has proven he can play either place."
"It adds to his versatility big time," Mitchell said. "You never know what could happen. I know when I was playing, and I was playing centerfield, and next thing I know I was in a big league spring training game, and I am in left. I didn't really feel comfortable here, because it is so different."
"But the versatility is so important these days, where you can play anywhere," Mitchell said. "Just in case there is a need at the next level, the big league level, whatever, and you are prepared to do it."
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Reliever Matt Wotherspoon returned from Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre Friday, after a nine-day stint.
He comes back to Trenton with a new role, however, after dominating in his three appearances for the RailRiders. He did not allow a run in six innings, and for the year with the two teams, he is 1-0 with a 0.78 ERA in 23 innings of work. He also has 27 strikeouts.
"He is going to start for us Sunday," Mitchell said. "He told me today that he has been a starter for most of his career. He did a fantastic job when he went to Scranton, pretty much the same as he did when he was here. And he dominated here."
"He is back to start, and see where we go from there," Mitchell said. "He has opened a lot of people's eyes I think. Like I told you, every time I saw him pitch in spring training I said 'Who is this guy?' And he continued on with it this year."
"He was in a role where he was getting at the most four innings, which he got the other day when he piggybacked all the way through nine innings," Mitchell said. "And he has been absolutely fantastic."
"I am not sure of the reason, because I have not heard about the pitching side of it," Mitchell said. "But it is probably to improve some of his pitches. Working on his changeup more, and trying to get it better, from talking to him about what they told him when he came down. He will get more chances to do that with more innings."
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean