TAMPA – When Jorbit Vivas reported to spring training, the prospect didn’t exactly know where to go.
That first-day-of-school scenario is common for newcomers at the Yankees’ sprawling complex at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Fortunately for Vivas, his countrymen showed him around.
“I’ve felt really good, very welcome here. There’s a lot of fellow Venezuelan players on this team coming in and making me feel comfortable,” the Puerto Cabello native told the Daily News. “They’ve helped me so much. I came in here a little lost, looking around, but they were there for me.”
Vivas, acquired alongside lefty reliever Victor González in an offseason trade that sent Trey Sweeney to the Dodgers, specifically mentioned teammates like Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza. But he said that all of the Yankees’ Venezuelan players, a group that also includes fellow second baseman Gleyber Torres, have helped him out.
While Vivas had trouble finding his bearings at first, he hasn’t looked lost at the plate.
The Yankees’ 10th best prospect, per MLB.com, has hit two home runs in as many spring training games. That includes a three-run shot in Monday’s win over the Twins.
“I’m someone that can make contact and put the ball in play,” the lefty-swinging Vivas said before that blast. “And from time to time, I run into one.”
Jorbit Vivas crushes one out in the 7th 💪 pic.twitter.com/A6OmmmLM6r
— NYYPlayerDev (@NYYPlayerDev) February 26, 2024
Before games began, Aaron Boone praised the 22-year-old’s bat-to-ball skills and ability to hit fastballs. But on Monday, the manager said that Vivas’ power has opened his eyes.
“He was an important part of that trade with getting González,” Boone said. “Obviously, we gave up Trey Sweeney, a big prospect that the Dodgers really liked. So we kind of did a lot of homework on [Vivas] and talked to some people that have had him and definitely like his bat.
“He’s interesting. Excited to see more of it.”
The skipper made a similar comment about the Yankees’ due diligence last week.
When told of that, Vivas couldn’t help but smile. He said the trade caught him by surprise, but he’s glad to be a Yankee now.
“You hear something like that and you feel happy about how much they value you,” he said. “You talk about two of the biggest franchises in baseball, the Dodgers and the Yankees, and they both had hyped-up thoughts of me. That makes you feel good. I feel I have qualities that can help this team.”
Vivas, who’s also shown off some speed, hit .269/.381/.407 with 13 home runs, 63 RBI and 25 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A last year. While he hasn’t played in the majors yet, he is on the Yankees’ 40-man roster.
Ironically, Vivas could impact what the Yankees do with some of their other Venezuelan players, particularly Peraza and Torres.
Peraza entered spring training as a logical candidate to be the team’s go-to backup infielder, as the natural shortstop can also dazzle at second and third. But Peraza, 23, has yet to hit in the majors.
Boone recently gave an uncommitted answer when asked if he considers Peraza the primary backup at his positions.
“You can throw a lot of guys in that bucket,” Boone said before mentioning Cabrera and non-roster invitees Jeter Downs, Kevin Smith and Josh VanMeter.
Vivas has only played a few professional frames at short, but he has logged nearly 1,000 innings at third. Boone plans on trying him at the hot corner over the next few days.
“I think he’s definitely solid at second and that’s his position,” Boone said. “But I want to see him on the other side of the diamond, too.”
Vivas said that he “definitely” feels “more comfortable at second base as of today, but there’s plenty of development and time to be done at third base.”
Second base could be the clearest path for Vivas in pinstripes, as Torres is slated for free agency at the end of the year. The two-time All-Star has said that he wants to remain a Yankee and is even open to a discount, but the team hasn’t come to Torres with an extension.
Vivas could position himself as Torres’ replacement with a strong first year in the Yankees’ organization. He doesn’t want to think about that, though he did confidently state that making his MLB debut is a goal in 2024.
“I’m focusing on giving the best I have,” Vivas said. “At the end of the day, the Yankees will put together a team, and that’s what they do. That’s their job. For me, it’s just focusing on what I can do.”
