It seems Ruben Rivera has a fan as another Yankees prospect has been cut due to stealing from his teammates.
Jake Sanford, the Yankees’ 2019 third-round pick, was fired Thursday for stealing from his teammates. He was also caught scamming fans online, according to the New York Post.
A source said that a team investigation found that the 24-year-old outfielder was guilty of stealing from his teammates, including a piece of equipment, which was then offered online. Sanford was released last week.
The source added that Sanford also collected money from buyers and did not deliver the products.
Another source stated that Sanford’s actions may be related to a gambling problem, but the Yankees refused to comment on the situation.
Sanford, who also played college baseball at Western Kentucky, received a signing bonus of $597,500 in 2019. However, according to an AL scout, the outfielder was not an elite prospect, making it easier for the franchise to terminate him.
The outfielder started his professional baseball career in 2019 but got sidelined in the 2020 season due to coronavirus pandemic that shut down the minors. While he struggled in 2019, he showed improvement when he came back in 2021.
Sanford slashed .291/.370/.438 at New York’s A-affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. He earned a spot with High-A Hudson Valley, posting a .839 OPS thanks to a .278/.342/.497 slash in 49 games.
Sanford deactivated his Twitter after his termination from the Yankees. He has reportedly signed with an independent team, the Ottawa Titans, in the Frontier League.
In 2002, a priced prospect, Ruben Rivera, was also cut by Yankees during spring training after the player stole Derek Jeter’s glove and bat and sold it online.
Sanford’s career in the minor league is likely over.
The best option for him and Rivera? How about joining basketball and competing for the greatest number of steals?