Yankees’ prospect Estevan Florial needs wrist surgery | What it means

KANSAS CITY — As soon as Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres gets to 130 plate appearances in about two weeks, 2018 officially will be his rookie season. At that point, Torres’ name will be removed from the prospects list, and that’s when center fielder Estevan Florial likely will be elevated from the Yankees’ No. 2 spot to No. 1. Updating Yankees…

KANSAS CITY — As soon as Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres gets to 130 plate appearances in about two weeks, 2018 officially will be his rookie season.

At that point, Torres’ name will be removed from the prospects list, and that’s when center fielder Estevan Florial likely will be elevated from the Yankees’ No. 2 spot to No. 1.

Updating Yankees prospects A to Z | Florial injured; Adams rebounds

Florial’s climb into Yankees’ top spot probably will be a little bittersweet.

Forced out of his game with the high A Tampa Tampons on Thursday with a sore wrist, the 20-year-old Dominican learned on Friday that he needs surgery on his hamate bone.

“It’s a little bump in the road and hopefully something that’s not too long,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. 

The five-tool prospect is expected to be sidelined until August.

Playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 2001, Boone was sidelined from May 15 to June 14 recovering from hamate surgery.

Unlike Florial, Boone was injured when he was hit by a pitch.

“Most hamate injuries happen from checked swings or swings,” Boone said.  “I don’t know how that affects the timeline.

“Hopefully it’s just a little break in the action for him and he’ll be back for most of the summer.”

Florial’s injury will delay an expected promotion to Double-A Trenton.

Dubbed the Yankees’ center fielder of the future, Florial is expected to play his way into debuting as a big leaguer by 2019 or 2020.

Florial wasn’t off to a great start this season – he was hitting just .246 with one homer, 10 RBIs and five steals – but he reached base safely 32 games in a row before leaving Thursday’s game 0-for-2.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.