CLEARWATER, Fla. _ At this time last year, Gio Urshela had no path to the Bronx as a non-roster infielder, toiling under the radar at Yankees camp.
But every so often, as a third baseman, Urshela would effortlessly rob some batter of a hit � a play that would command attention during an otherwise sleepy exhibition game.
At the plate, Urshela was really forcing decision-makers to take notice.
Urshela barreled up pitches and chipped away at the conventional thinking that he was a defensive specialist who'd never become a regular Major League player.
"I already knew I was going to start (2019) in the minor leagues," Urshela said. "I was just waiting for an opportunity."
That chance came in early April, when Miguel Andujar banged up his right shoulder � an injury that would soon require season-ending surgery.
After a stunning all-around performance in 2019, Andujar's placeholder has become the Yankees regular third baseman _ forcing the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up to find at-bats as a novice left fielder.
"I'm confident what we saw was real," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Urshela's .314/.355/.534 slash line in 132 games last season, with 21 home runs and 74 RBI in 442 at-bats and an .889 OPS.
