Chris Carter's Yankees' career came to an abrupt halt early Saturday when he was designated for assignment. Tyler Austin was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Last August, Austin and Aaron Judge both homered in their first big league game. In 31 games. Austin hit .241 with five homers and 12 RBIs.
Carter, 30, may have sealed his fate after going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Rangers in 10 innings. Carter failed in his attempt to replace Greg Bird, who was coming off shoulder surgery in 2015 and then had a rough start at the plate before landing on the disabled list with a foot and then ankle injury.
Carter was a big power hitter with the Brewers last season, hitting 41 home runs with 84 RBIs. But with the Yankees he hit just eight homers with 23 RBIs and struck out 70 times in 167 at-bats. He was averaging .209. The Yankees gave him a one-year deal for $3 million.
Austin, 25, started a rehabilitation assignment in Double A on May 20. He was elevated to Triple A on May 26 where in 32 games he was hitting .316 with four homers and 22 RBIs.
