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Vernon Wells Plays Third Base

By April Whitzman, @AlleyCat17

Now with the Yankees after a trade from the Angels before the season began, Wells is proving all doubters wrong.

In 30 games this season, Wells has 33 hits, seven of which are home runs. One of those home runs came in last night’s Yankees game against the Colorado Rockies. In fact, Wells played a factor in all three Yankee runs scored, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. And while that feat is quite impressive, it wasn’t just his offense that kept his team in the game.

It was his defense. In the ninth inning, after Travis Hafner pinch hit for Yankees third baseman Chris Nelson, Wells was asked to play third, a position he has not played since high school. Wells, however, takes grounders at third base on a weekly basis, recognizing the lack of depth due to injuries to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Eduardo Nunuez. As such, he was able to field his only defensive opportunity, a ground out by Carlos Gonzalez, perfectly for the second last out of the game.

What kind of season do you think Vernon Wells will have wearing pinstripes in 2013? Comment below.