Tonight was the long awaited debut of one of the New York Yankees top hitting prospects, Brett Gardner. Gardner is a speedy center fielder who challenged Melky Cabrera for the starting job back in spring training. He failed to win a job then, but after leading the International League with 34 stolen bases through today it was time to give the chance. Ok, it really wasn’t that but that helped him be the player selected to help replace Hideki Matsui and the aching Johnny Damon.

It was a pretty uneventful Major League Debut for the youngster but he did show glimpses of why the Yankees have been so high on this kid. The thing that stood out before the game even started was the fact that Joe Girardi had the kid batting lead-off. Thats right! The Yankees had a rookie making his major league debut bat lead-off.

His first at-bat showed the patience that the team has sorely lacked at points this season. He started off with a 1-2 count but wound up working it into a full count. Eventually he hit a fairly soft ground ball to first that should of been an easy out. Texas Rangers first baseman Chris Davis thou must of never heard of this kids speed thou. As he was waiting for pitcher Scott Feldman to cover first, the lightning quick Gardner hustled out of the box and caused Davis to scramble to first. Davis barely reached the bag in time, so the first at-bat was a ground out to first.

In the third inning, Gardner made his second appearance and worked another full count. On the eight pitch of the at-bat he struck out looking. The pitch was a borderline high strike, but yet was to close of a pitch to take with two strikes. Throughout the at-bat Gardner routinely laid off close pitches that were called balls.

Gardner’s last at-bat came in the fifth inning. This time he was swinging early and put the ball in play on the second pitch. It was an easy double play ball hit to Michael Young at short. Using his speed thou, Gardner narrowly and I do mean narrowly beat the throw to first. So instead of an inning ending double play it was a fielders choice. He flashed his speed once again as he stole second base on a pitch out, for his first major league stolen base.

Defensively, he had a couple balls routine balls hit to him out in left field, so we really didn’t get to see how he can handle the position in the Bronx. Well actually, now that I think of it there was one play in the top of the 5th where him and Melky converged on a short pop fly in left center. Melky made the catch after the two almost collided. Both players were yelling for the ball, and Gardner never backed off as Cabrera had the right away being the center fielder. This could be written off to the fact that Gardner has been playing center ever since becoming a Yankees minor leaguer so he’s got to learn he isn’t the defensive captain any more.

Overall, Gardner went 0-3 with a strikeout and a stolen base. Not a great start but he did show why the Yankees have been high on this kid. He works the count and has very good speed, something this Yankees team has lacked. Girardi will surely take advantage of that and utilize him as a pinch-runner in the games he does not start.

I was encouraged by the start and can’t wait to see what this kid could do.

Gardner should be with the big leaguers for a while as Hideki Matsui won’t be returning for a while. Take a trip to the Stadium and catch this kid in action.

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