Yankees Promote Zelous Wheeler, Send Down Chase Whitley

Jul 6, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees third baseman

(45) awaits his turn during batting practice before the game with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Yankees win 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

With Carlos Beltran ailing, the Yankees have called up utility-man Zelous Wheeler, optioning rookie reliever Chase Whitley to Triple-A Scranton.

Beltran has been experiencing lingering pain in his right elbow from a swing he took Tuesday night and will be out through at least Saturday, if not longer. The veteran right-fielder and DH already missed a month this season after doctors discovered bonechips in the same elbow and New York is waiting to see how he responds to a cortisone shot.

Until, then Wheeler will take his place. A longtime Brewers and Orioles farmhand, the 27 year old signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent in November and has enjoyed a career-year with Scranton, hitting .296/.367/.467 with nine home runs in 304 at bats. His strong play already earned him a promotion at the start of July and he posted a .733 OPS with two home runs in his first 31 big league plate appearances.

Wheeler’s primary value comes from his ability to play a wide variety of positions. The Alabama native played third base and right field for New York in July, and over his last two seasons in the minors, Wheeler has appeared at every position on the diamond (including on the mound) except catcher, center field and first base.

For Whitley, this is a nice story reaching a disappointing conclusion. Despite the fact that Whitely pitched almost exclusively as a reliever for most of his professional career, New York, its starting pitchers fleeing in troves to the disabled list, called him up and put him in the rotation on May 15. He threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his debut, and was a legitimate starter for over a month after that. Across a 4 start stretch from June 1 to June 18th, Wheeler went 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA.

But he lost his starting job after the next three starts yielded 17 earned runs in just 10 1/3 innings – a 14.81(!) ERA. He had been struggling in relief of late, too, with a 12.27 ERA over his last six appearances.

Whitley won’t be gone for long. Rosters expand in ten days and Whitley will be back, hoping to earn a roster spot for next season,