The Yankees signed outfielder Quintin Berry to a minor-league deal on Monday — possibly with a eye toward their playoff push.
NEW YORK — The Yankees may have added an under-the-radar weapon for their postseason push — and even October.
The team signed outfielder Quintin Berry to a minor-league deal and sent him straight to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
And then they showed just how it seems like they’ll use him: By letting him pinch run.
Berry scored a run in the Railriders’ 9-6 win over the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs — the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate.
Berry, 33, is a speed freak. He’s 29 for 33 in steal attempts in the majors, where he’s also hit .262 with three homers 33 RBI in 305 at-bats over parts of five seasons.
He’s got 399 career steals in the minors and was 10-for-11 with the Brewers’ minor-league teams this season.
Berry will be eligible for the Yankees’ postseason roster because he’ll have been in the organization since before Sept. 1. He’s been a primary pinch runner before, doing it in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Jacoby Ellsbury would have seemed perfect for the role, but he’s been out all season with various injuries, and he’s not coming back following hip surgery.
Tyler Wade, a utility player and prospect at Triple-A, would have seemed like the next-best option. But it appears the Yankees preferred someone with more experience in the role.
The Phillies picked Berry in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. He broke into the majors with the Tigers at age 27, playing 94 games and hitting .258 with two homers and 29 RBI. He was a 21-for-21 in steal attempts that season.
Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
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