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| Rob Refsnyder at bat during an August 4th game between the Syracuse Chiefs and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. |
Taking in a Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders game is often more like watching aging has-beens and no name prospects rather than future MLB stars. However there is one budding player whose name fans may want to become familiar with.
Rob Refsnyder's numbers didn't dazzle Monday night against the Syracuse Chiefs at NBT Bank Stadium, going 1-5 with an RBI double, but his stats this season have landed him in MLB.com's top prospects list for 2014.
Refsnyder, 23, originally from Seoul, South Korea, won the College World Series in 2012 with the University of Arizona and was awarded tournament MVP honors.
An outfielder in college, Refsnyder has adjusted well to second base having posted a .994 fielding percentage in 39 games so far this year in AAA.
"The biggest thing for me is just getting tons of reps over there," Refsnyder said.
Refsnyder's success hasn't only come on the field, he's made improvements at the plate as well. After hitting 16 home runs in his first two professional seasons, he has hit 13 this year so far while posting a .321 batting average between the AA Trenton Thunder and the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
His increase in power was no surprise. Last season he altered his swing with the help of Marcus Thames, the Double-A hitting coach in Trenton. But his approach at the plate has remained the same.
"I still want to get a good pitch to drive, preferably something up in the zone and just try be more direct to the baseball," Refsnyder said.
Since Robinson Cano left the Yankees last year via free agency the second base position in the Bronx has lacked consistency. Brian Roberts who had manned the position for most of this season was recently designated for assignment and the newly acquired Martin Prado and Stephen Drew have split time there along with veteran Kelly Johnson.
Refsnyder's recent success could see him in a Yankees uniform soon.
"You never know what the Yankees are going to do whether its through trades or free agency so I just have to work hard and worry about my own business," he said.
With the Yankee second base job in flux, it wouldn't be impossible to see Refsnyder in the Bronx at the start of next season, but for now the RailRiders is where he will have to continue to progress. Without a spot on the 40 man roster Refsnyder isn't guaranteed a late season call up.
With one month left in the RailRiders season, the Yankees' prospect knows what needs to be done to reach the next level.
"I just try to continue to get better and focus on the little things," Refsnyder said.
The RailRiders finish their season on September 1st against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
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