The Atlanta Braves signed Mustelier after a year away from professional baseball, playing in the Mexican League.
Mustelier was a tremendous contact hitter as a young player in Cuba, putting up a line of .295/399/455 in Serie Nacional from age 17 through age 23, primarily as a third baseman, before leaving Cuba in order to escape to the United States.
The Yankees signed Mustelier once he was cleared by Major League Baseball in 2011 for a meager signing bonus of $50,000.
The Yankees immediately began using Mustelier primarily as an outfielder with some time at third base as well.