Dewayne Wise: Earning his pinstripes

It’s always nice to feel wanted. For Dewayne Wise, that feeling led to a minor league contract and an invite to spring training from the New York Yankees.

“I know [the Yankees] were trying to get me for the last two years,” the veteran outfielder told TheGoodPoint.com last month in Florida. “That made my decision easier this [past] offseason. By signing over here, you always want to go somewhere where you’re wanted and I felt these guys really wanted me.”

Since making his major league debut in 2000, the 34-year-old Wise has played for four teams, including three separate stints with the Toronto Blue Jays. Last season, he hit .202 in 69 games with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins and Blue Jays.

His career stats – a .231 batting average with 22 HRs and 82 RBIs over nine seasons – will not put him in Cooperstown. But Wise will be remembered for his ninth-inning highlight-reel catch as a member of the Chicago White Sox, which preserved Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009.

Wise now has a chance to be part of the Yankees organization. It’s an opportunity that he’s embracing. 

[php snippet=1]

“When I’m done playing, I’m going to say I wore the pinstripes once,” said Wise. “They’re a great organization and have a team full of superstars. I’m just thankful to be in this clubhouse this spring.”

Making New York’s 25-man roster was not going to be an easy task and Wise was aware of the circumstances. He did manage to catch some attention during spring training.

On March 30, Wise hit two home runs and picked up three RBIs in a 13-9 Yankee victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Six days earlier, he went 1-for-2 with two RBIs as New York defeated Detroit 4-2. Wise would also add an RBI in the Yankees’ final pre-season game on April 3; a 7-6 loss to the New York Mets.

Regardless of his production on the field, there weren’t many who expected Wise to make the team.

“Wise picked a bad team to sign a minor league deal with in January, as he entered the spring no higher than seventh on the outfield depth chart,” stated a March 30 post on Rotoworld.com. “He’s had a nice March with a .412 average in 34 at-bats, but it’s not very likely that someone will trade for him and give him a job.”

Sure enough, Wise was optioned to New York’s Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the International League, on April 3. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be ignored in the minors.

In a March 26 QnA article with Yankee fans, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch described Wise as “an excellent fielder who offers versatility if the Yankees need it.” Still, he will have to wait his turn.

“Having a good spring certainly doesn’t hurt Wise, but he arrived understanding that he wasn’t necessarily competing for a job in camp – not with starting roles assigned to [Brett] Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher, with Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez also on the bench,” Hoch wrote.

Whether he gets called up this season or not, Wise felt it was a blessing to share the same space as Yankee stars like Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia. He didn’t get a chance to have full-length conversations with them, but was able to watch them prepare for the regular season.

“A lot of people may not know it, but those guys are in the cage early in the morning working hard,” said Wise. “They’re in the weight room busting their butts. Their hard work pays off and that’s why they’re so successful.”

Although it seems impossible, it shouldn’t be surprising if Dewayne Wise does eventually wear pinstripes this season. His agreement with the Yankees had an out clause where, if another team offered him a contract, he could opt-out of his deal with the Yankees and join that team. No such offer came, but by not releasing him, the Yankees have shown they value what he has to offer.

As for Wise, he doesn’t know what will happen going forward. However, he is grateful to feel wanted by one of baseball’s best organizations.

In the meantime, there are more important matters. According to Donnie Collins of the Scranton Times-Tribune, Wise was placed on the temporary inactive list April 5 so he could be with his wife as she gave birth.

He’s expected to rejoin Scranton/Wilkes-Barre soon, where the real quest to wear pinstripes will officially begin.

[php snippet=1]