AT age 21, leading the Triple-A International League with 129 hits while batting .305 and playing a pretty good shortstop, Columbus’ D’Angelo Jimenez should be next in line for the majors.
But he is in the Yankee organization. And he is a shortstop. So the aisle is closed.
Derek Jeter is the Y2K DiMaggio. Fellow minor-league shortstop Alfonso Soriano was imported from Japan for $2.52 million, and it appears the Bombers might have gotten him on the cheap. And so here is Jimenez playing well – but with nowhere to play.
“I don’t think about it,” said Jimenez, who, unlike the other two shortstops, is a switch-hitter. “Jeter has his job. Soriano’s coming here and they love him. I try not to frustrate my mind.”
When Soriano is fully healthy, his previously scheduled move to short at Columbus will take place. When it does, for the most part, Jimenez will be shifted over to second.
“I’ll be comfortable playing second,” said Jimenez, who is from the Dominican Republic. “I played winter ball in Santo Domingo at second base. If they want me over there playing second, then I’ll be over there playing second.
“I don’t want to sit on the bench.”
Not even in the majors in a Homer Bush-type role next season?
“I think 22 years old to be [in] a utility role would not be good because all my years I have been a starter,” Jimenez said.
But his ability to play short, second and maybe even third is something that could propel Jimenez to The Show quicker.
“Infield versatility is never a black mark on a player,” Mark Newman, the Yankees vice president of player development, said.
What type of player is Jimenez?
As has been written before, he is the Yankees’ Steve Bono to Jeter’s Joe Montana and Soriano’s Steve Young. While the other comparisons to the 49er QBs are dead on, Jimenez may prove a better baseball player than the erratic Bono is a football player.
But, like Bono, Jimenez is likely going to have to go to Kansas City or someplace to play every day. Jimenez’ name, according to Newman, is one often brought up by other organizations.
“I know it is tough for the Yankees because they have [Chuck] Knoblauch, Jeter and Soriano,” Jimenez said. “Maybe I’ll have a shot with another team.”
Jimenez quickly added that he wants to make it here.
The only scenario in which that would seem possible is if the 21-year-old Soriano plays third or the outfield, which he has already said he will not.
Then perhaps Jimenez could be an eventual successor to the 31-year-old Knoblauch, who’s under contract through 2001.
“I think when the time comes for him in the major leagues, hopefully with the Yankees organization, if it involves a position change then that doesn’t bother me for D’Angelo,” said Columbus manager Trey Hillman, who guided Jimenez at the beginning of last season in Double-A Norwich.
The fact that Jimenez can seriously be considered in the Bombers’ plans is a testament to his improvement. Last season, after being moved up to Triple-A, Jimenez hit just .256.
But even more of a negative was his the way he played shortstop. A SportsCenter-mentality had him being too flashy and not fundamentally sound.
According to all concerned, Jimenez’ total approach is superior this season. In the offseason at home in the Santo Domingo, Jimenez added muscle while losing 10 pounds to get to his listed weight of 160 pounds.
He’s also not as prone to get down on himself.
“Last year, I would strike out and go to the field and not do my job,” Jimenez said.
This season, he is doing his job well. Building that resume. There just might not be any jobs opening any time soon.
