The Yankees have been dealing with injuries lately, and one to All-Star Starlin Castro led to the call-up of Tyler Wade. In 2013, he hit .524 at Murrieta Valley HS in California and was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the First-Year Player Draft. He played more shortstop than second base in the minors but is at second now.
He was in spring training as a non- roster invitee and went to Triple-A where he was hitting .313 with 24 stolen bases in 71 games. Wade collected his first MLB hit on June 28 against the White Sox with an RBI double off Jake Petricka.
Wade took a minute to speak with NY Sports Day after Wednesday’s game.
NYSD: How is it coming up in the middle of a playoff race?
TW: Yeah, this team’s been playing well all year and I’m just excited to be here to help contribute to this team.
NYSD: When you were working your way up the system you were a shortstop at first. Was that tough, being a shortstop in the Yankee system when Derek Jeter was here?
TW: I mean, it’s someone I’ve always looked up to and it’s someone I’ve always idolized and wanted to be like, so I mean it wasn’t necessarily tough for me.
NYSD: Is there anything that you didn’t expect coming up here that’s caught you be surprise?
TW: No, not really. Everything’s kind of exceeded my expectations and it’s just been a dream come true.