REFSNYDER UPDATE FROM BP!!!
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/images/headshot_100317.jpg6. Rob Refsnyder, 2B
DOB: 03/26/1991
Height/Weight: 6’1” 205 lbs.
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Acquired: Drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, University of Arizona; signed for $205,900
Previous Ranking(s): 2015: #6 (Org)
2015 Stats: .271/.359/.402; 9 HR, 12 SB for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre .302/.348/.512; 2 HR, 2 SB for the New York Yankees
Key Tools: 55 hit
Role: 45—Good utility player
The longer you write about prospects, the more you come to appreciate a player like Refsnyder. There isn't a single interesting athletic tool here, and it is easy to scoff at his defense, but Refsnyder is a baseball player who rewards multiple looks with a lovely line-drive swing that eventually convinces you he can hit major-league pitching. He's also flashed double-digit power in the minors, and might be able to yank 10 home runs over the left field fence in the majors with a full season of at-bats.
Yet it's tough to see a way for him to get those at-bats in the Bronx. The arm restricts him to second base, and he's further limited there by somewhat mechanical actions. The Yankees went out and traded for Starlin Castro for a reason, after all. A second-division team needing to fill a hole at second base could do far worse than Refsnyder, but he is best suited for a superutility role, playing second base and some corner outfield. On the plus side, he is ready to fill that role right now.
Fantasy Impact: Without a defined role, the best attribute Refsnyder might bring to a fantasy team in the near future is some positional flexibility. His offensive profile is solid in that role, as he can be a strong contributor in average and throw in some counting stats if the playing time is there. He's unlikely to be relevant in leagues shallower than 14 teams, but a very good player to have around in deep mixed and AL-only formats.
Major league ETA: Debuted in 2015