Is Peter O'Brien the answer to the Yankees' power problem?

PeterObrienCanes
TRENTON -- It's one of the mysteries of this Yankees season: Where is the power?

The Yankees signed outfielder Carlos Beltran and catcher Brian McCann in the off season, hoping to replace the pop in the lineup they would lose with Alex Rodriguez's suspension and Curtis Granderson's departure, but it hasn't worked out.

Beltran has only five home runs, partly due to an elbow injury, and McCann, who was expected to take advantage of Yankee Stadium's right-field porch, has just seven.

First baseman Mark Teixeira, battling a nagging wrist injury, leads the team with just 10 homers, while outfielder Alfonso Soriano has struggled to find his groove, hitting only six.

The lack of power has the Yankees ranked 22nd in the league in home runs (52) and 22nd in run scored (256). And with a team batting average of just .242, the Yankees are showing they can't consistently manufacture runs with timely hitting.

If the anemic offense continues, general manager Brian Cashman will have two choices: Go shopping for a bat, or find one in his back yard. The Yankees could consider calling up Trenton Thunder's Peter O'Brien, a power-hitting right-handed bat who has been tearing it up in the minors.

O'Brien -- 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds -- has a combined 22 homers between High-A Tampa and the Double-A Thunder this season. He also has 48 RBIs and is batting .278/.313/.630 with an OPS of .943. Those 22 home runs put him at the top of the minor leagues this year.

"I think all of baseball has taken notice of his ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Thunder manager Tony Franklin said. "That's a special talent, and he has done very well."

The former Miami Hurricane, drafted by the Yankees in 2012, had 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in limited action in 2012, and he belted 22 homers while driving in 96 runs in 2013, his first full season.

So, why haven't the Yankees pulled the trigger on this guy? Possibly because O'Brien has yet to find a true position.

He entered the minors as a catcher, then moved around. After catching for all of 2012, the Yankees experimented with him at third base, but after O'Brien committed 18 errors in 38 games, they decided it wasn't the right fit. He has rotated between catcher and outfield, and most recently has been given a chance to play first base.

The organization is looking for anyway to get -- and keep -- his bat in the lineup. In the end, however, the versatility could help O'Brien get to the big leagues even faster.

And, of course, there's always DH.

"Yeah, [playing different positions] definitely helps me out a lot, knowing that no matter where I am, I am going to be productive." O'Brien said.

If O'Brien becomes comfortable at first, he could be called up to back up Teixeira.

"First base is good, and to be honest everywhere I've played has been good," O'Brien said. "Catching, third base, right field, I've been comfortable everywhere. I think the biggest thing is where they see me playing for the next 15 to 20 years."

The Yankees are hoping that as O'Brien matures, he become more patient and selective at the plate. He has struck out 506 times, while drawing only 122 walks. O'Brien thinks the walks will come, though.

"I know I'm an aggressive hitter, and I think I should be with some of the things I bring to the plate," O'Brien said. "I think walks are kind of a by-product of putting up good numbers and they will start to pitch around you. So once that starts happening a little bit more, I think those walks will start coming. I'm not worried about it."


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(nj.com)
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