Yankees Prospect Profile: Melky Mesa

Added by Gina Sorce on March 6, 2013.

Due to an injury to Curtis Granderson, Melky Mesa is in the running to make the big club out of spring. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

New York Yankees’ outfield prospect Melky Mesa is turning heads this Spring Training.

In six Spring Training exhibitions, Mesa is hitting .222 with four hits, two home runs and four RBIs. Mesa has already stolen two bases this spring, as well.

According to Lou DiPietro of the YES Network, Curtis Granderson, center fielder, will be out 10 weeks due to his fractured forearm injury. This leaves the position up for grabs until mid-May. Mesa is competing with other prospects including Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, Zolio Almonte and Ronnier Mustellier, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Mesa decided to forgo playing for the Dominican Republic squad in the World Baseball Classic because of the opportunity to impress the Yankees this spring at camp.

“It’s a decision that he has to make, and he wants to be seen more. I respect that,” manager Joe Girardi told Hoch.

The 26-year-old made his Major League debut on September 22, 2012. On October 1, 2012, Mesa earned his first Major League RBI on his first career hit, which was a pinch-hit single, according to Yankees.com.

Prior to his Major League debut, Mesa spent the 2011-2012 seasons with the Double-A Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League. In 2012, Mesa batted .277 in 88 games with the Thunder and had 92 hits, 14 home runs and 46 RBIs. Halfway through the season, Mesa was called up to Triple-A Empire State Yankees, where he batted .230 with 29 hits, nine home runs and drove in 21 RBIs in 33 games, according to MiLB.com.