Why Yankees’ Estevan Florial never panned out in pinstripes

NEW YORK — The end was near for Yankees outfielder Estevan Florial all spring long. He was technically competing for a starting job in left field, but let’s be honest. With no minor-league options remaining, Florial was more so fighting to keep his Yankees career alive.

Florial made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, but didn’t stick around for much longer than that. The outfielder was designated for assignment on Saturday before the second game of the year, abruptly signaling what’s expected to be the end of an era for another top prospect that never panned out in pinstripes.

Right-hander Colten Brewer took Florial’s spot on the active roster, an ex-Red Sox reliever that came over from the Rays in a trade on Thursday.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone called his conversation with Florial difficult and sad, giving the 25-year-old the tough news.

“We’ve been through a lot with Flo,” Boone said. “He’s such a great kid. The one thing that I tried to remind him and encourage him is he’s still a young man with a ton of talent. This game is difficult and clicks at different points for different people.”

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It was never a question of talent for the Dominican outfielder. Florial blossomed in the Yankees’ system after signing with the club in 2015, ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline in 2019. He had all the tools necessary to succeed. Still does. Florial just couldn’t shake his toxic tendencies at the plate. Every chance he had against big-league pitching, he couldn’t fill the gaping holes in his swing.

Florial’s high strikeout rate and low contact numbers outweighed the speed, the arm strength, the power and the makeup. Factor in some adversity out of Florial’s control — injuries and a lost season during the pandemic — and it’s no wonder the phenom couldn’t put it together.

In 63 plate appearances with the Yankees over the last four years, Florial struck out 21 times, batting .185 with only three extra-base hits. This spring, Florial hit .163 with a .536 OPS and 19 strikeouts in 23 games.

“It could absolutely still happen for Flo,” Boone said. “[There were] some key points in his development where he missed the bulk of a couple years in a row, which probably hurt him a little bit just from an experience and important development phase. But again, he’s still young and very talented, so you never bet against that.”

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The Yankees now have one week to either trade Florial or place him on waivers. The odds of the Yankees not finding any takers — and the outfielder coasting untouched through waivers — are slim to none. It’s a safe bet that the next time we see Florial in big-league game, the outfielder will be wearing another uniform for the first time.

If it’s up to Florial, he’ll have a full-time opportunity wherever he ends up. That’s something he never truly had in pinstripes.

“If I’m playing every day, I know what I can do,” Florial told NJ Advance Media last month. “I know that I can be as good as anybody.”