TORONTO — A scout who has followed Tyler Austin’s career believes he has a chance to stick in the big leagues for a while.
“I was encouraged. I saw improvement last year,’’ the scout said Wednesday of the Yankees’ Opening Day first baseman. “He can be a platoon player against left-handed pitching, a DH or corner outfielder. He reminds me of Josh Willingham. He is a big-league player. If not for the Yankees he will fit in somewhere.’’
The Yankees and Austin will take Willingham’s career right now. The outfielder played 11 years in the big leagues with the Marlins, Nationals, A’s, Twins and Royals and posted a .