TAMPA — Trey Sweeney is 6-foot-4, quiet, performs within the infield and may hit.
Drafted within the first spherical by the Yankees final June, the 21-year-old is simply beginning his first spring coaching with the group and has already impressed some with similarities to DJ LeMahieu, as a consequence of his demeanor, physique sort and work ethic.
Now, the Yankees hope he develops into an identical sort of participant — though Sweeney hits from the left facet.
“I like him as a participant,’’ new hitting coach Dillon Lawson mentioned Wednesday on the Yankees’ improvement complicated. “It’s thrilling to consider the shortstop group we have now proper now within the group.”
Sweeney is among the many more moderen additions to that group, becoming a member of Anthony Volpe — thought-about by many observers to be among the many prime prospects within the sport — in addition to Oswald Peraza, who might discover his method to The Bronx in some unspecified time in the future late this season.
Sweeney wasn’t closely recruited out of St. Xavier Excessive Faculty in Louisville, Kentucky. He wound up taking part in in faculty at Japanese Illinois College, the place he was coached by Jason Anderson.
Anderson was drafted by the Yankees in 2000 as a right-handed pitcher, spent components of 2003 and 2005 in The Bronx, in addition to a part of ’03 with the Mets after being a part of the deal that introduced Armando Benitez to the Yankees.
Anderson didn’t care about who else recruited Sweeney, he was simply glad he bought him.
“I don’t know what it's we noticed [in Sweeney], it was extra about what others didn’t see,’’ Anderson mentioned by telephone. “We cherished all the pieces about him and knew after his first observe right here he’d be our beginning shortstop.”
What stood out to Anderson then remains to be the case now.
“He’s bought the dimensions, a fantastic lefty swing and an excellent arm,’’ Anderson mentioned. “I all the time referred to as him a unicorn. He was too good to be true. He performs the sport the best method and with the best mindset. He’s not going to say a lot, he’s simply going to give attention to the work.”
Sweeney spent a handful of video games final summer season within the Florida Advanced League earlier than being moved to Low-A Tampa, the place he performed effectively in 29 video games.
With Peraza seemingly headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (in some unspecified time in the future, since he’s on the 40-man roster and may’t play till the MLB lockout ends) and Volpe (who, like Sweeney, is just not on the 40-man roster and may due to this fact play) seemingly certain for Double-A Somerset, Sweeney might find yourself at Tampa or Excessive-A Hudson Valley.
“It was good I bought somewhat skilled expertise below my belt,’’ Sweeney mentioned. “I’m simply seeking to continue to learn a number of new issues this 12 months. An important factor is to not fear an excessive amount of about outcomes proper now and simply give attention to bettering my sport.”
As a freshman in faculty, Sweeney mentioned he had no expectations of being picked within the first spherical.
After a strong first season, Sweeney hit effectively as a sophomore earlier than that 12 months was minimize brief due to the COVID pandemic. He continued to develop final season as a redshirt sophomore, which put him into a unique trajectory.
“My first couple years [in college], perhaps the primary spherical wasn’t an choice, nevertheless it wasn’t too shocking by the tip,’’ Sweeney mentioned of his ’21 season at Japanese Illinois, when he was named Ohio Valley Convention Participant of the Yr. “None of it was a considered mine going into faculty.”
Lately, he’s matched up with Volpe, the Yankees’ first-round choose from 2019.
“It’s cool to see that stage of competitors day by day,’’ Sweeney mentioned. “Enjoying alongside somebody like that's enjoyable. I feel we make one another higher.”
What the Yankees do with their depth on the spot will likely be a major query as soon as the lockout ends. Sweeney want to see all of them stick round.
“We’re undoubtedly loaded at that place,’’ Sweeney mentioned. “Hopefully we are able to all maintain shifting ahead.”
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