Florial is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Blue Jays.
Florial was in center field for each of the Yankees' first seven games after he was called up, but the left-handed batter will take a seat for this one as Toronto sends southpaw Yusei Kikuchi to the bump. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will handle center field.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Slated for regular playing time
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Florial is "going to have an opportunity to play and to play a lot" down the stretch, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Florial was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday, absorbing the roster spot vacated by Jasson Dominguez (elbow). The Yankees could turn to Florial to replace Dominguez as the team's regular center fielder, too, with Everson Pereira remaining in left field. The 25-year-old Florial has struggled in his big-league chances so far but posted a .944 OPS with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases this season at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Florial will start in center field and bat seventh for the Yankees in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Returns to big leagues
Rotowire
The Yankees selected Florial's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
He's taking the roster spot vacated by Jasson Dominguez (elbow), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. Florial was removed from the Yankees' 40-man roster earlier this season but has made his way back on after putting up a .944 OPS with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 25-year-old has struggled during his brief time in the majors, however, and there's no guarantee that he'll see much playing time in the final weeks.
Florial cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by the Yankees on Friday.
It's a bit surprising that the former top prospect cleared waivers, but the Yankees are surely happy to keep him around as outfield depth. Florial has just a .579 OPS over 30 games at the major-league level.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Florial was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Saturday.
Florial made the Yankees' Opening Day roster but didn't last long. The 25-year-old has raw tools but has struck out in a third of his 63 major-league plate appearances, hitting .185/.302/.278 for his career. Reliever Colten Brewer's contract was selected in a corresponding move.
Yankees' Estevan Florial: Likely to make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone implied Tuesday that Florial has a chance to make the Opening Day roster, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Florial was believed to be battling Rafael Ortega for the final spot on the roster, but after Ortega was granted his release, it appears the former top prospect has won a job. While Florial didn't impress with the bat during the Grapefruit League with a .536 OPS over 53 at-bats, he did show well with the glove, and the 25-year-old will likely be a defensive replacement in the late innings when needed. The Yankees also could make a move for another outfielder before Thursday, but it appears that right now Florial is locked in to a bench role.
Florial got into eight games for the Yankees earlier this season, going 1-for-20 with eight strikeouts. He'll give the team some extra outfield depth with Andrew Benintendi (wrist) on the injured list and could be needed to start some games, but he's yet to show anything that would get fantasy managers excited.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
Florial was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Tuesday's win over the Mets.
Florial entered as a defensive replacement late in Tuesday's contest but didn't register a plate appearance. The 24-year-old was promoted by New York last week and appeared in four games during his brief stint in the majors, going 1-for-9 with an RBI, a run and four strikeouts.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: On bench for third straight
Rotowire
Florial remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
The Yankees have seemingly tabled any plans of deploying Florial as an everyday player, as the lefty-hitting outfielder will be on the bench against a right-handed pitcher (Taijuan Walker) for the third consecutive game. Aaron Judge will pick up another start in center field at Florial's expense, with Oswaldo Cabrera effectively replacing Florial in right field.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Sitting again Monday
Rotowire
Florial will sit Monday versus the Mets.
Florial will be on the bench for the second straight game and third time in four contests overall. Aaron Judge will shift over to center field while Marwin Gonzalez starts in right field and bats ninth against the Mets.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Florial is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Florial will take a seat for the series finale after going 1-for-9 with an RBI and a run while starting in three of the Yankees' last four games. Though Florial has gotten off to an underwhelming start since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre a few days ago, the Yankees don't yet appear prepared to pull the plug on him as their primary center fielder. Aaron Hicks will spell Florial in center field Sunday, however.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Florial isn't starting Friday against the Blue Jays.
Florial started the last two games and went 0-for-5 with a run and two strikeouts. Aaron Judge is shifting to center field while Oswaldo Cabrera starts in right.
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Yankees' Estevan Florial: Called up, will start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Yankees recalled Florial from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Manager Aaron Boone said Florial will start in center field and bat eighth Wednesday against the Rays, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
New York brought up two of its top prospects in Florial and Oswaldo Cabrera from Triple-A and will immediately insert the two into the starting nine, while reserve outfielders Miguel Andujar and Tim Locastro were sent back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in corresponding moves. At the very least, Florial should serve as the Yankees' fourth outfielder while he's up with the big club, and he could even supplant the struggling Aaron Hicks as the team's primary center fielder. Hicks is on the bench Wednesday for the second day in a row to clear a spot in the lineup for Florial, who had slashed .300/.375/.500 over his final 12 games at Triple-A prior to being promoted.
The Yankees plan to recall Florial from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rays, Bob Klapisch of The New York Times reports.
Florial has had brief stops in the big leagues over each of the last three seasons, but the Yankees may be prepared to give the 24-year-old a more permanent look in their outfield as the team looks to end its 3-11 slide to begin August. Aaron Hicks (.119 batting average this month) has been one of the many culprits of the Yankees' ongoing slide, so manager Aaron Boone could be ready to give Florial a trial run as an everyday player with the hope he can inject some life into the offense. Florial has supplied an .864 OPS over 398 plate appearances at Triple-A this season and has slashed .300/.375/.500 with five extra-base hits and three stolen bases over his last 12 games.
