Yankees call up Rob Refsnyder, James Pazos, and Luis Cessa

Since taking two groundballs off his face at the tail-end of spring training, Rob Refsnyder has been biding his time in Triple-A, waiting for the chance to make it back to the big leagues. For the first month and a half in the season, Refsnyder didn't have a chance with Ronald Torreyes doing enough to warrant a utility role with the big league team. Not much has changed with the Torreyes situation, but Refsnyder is getting the call on Tuesday regardless, according to Baseball America's Josh Norris.

Since being optioned to minor league camp at the end of March, Refsnyder has hit .293/.336/.398 line in 143 Triple-A at bats. The line is nothing to be ashamed of, but Refsnyder's power is down a bit and his walk rate has dropped from 10.7% to 6.3%. On the bright side, Refsnyder has been striking out less and increased activity on the basepaths have led to six steals (in six attempts).

Refsnyder has worked to increase his flexibility around the field, playing third base twice a week in Triple-A this season as well as some right field. Still, he's too raw at the hot corner to see time there in the big leagues, and the current series against the Diamondbacks means designated hitter is out of the equation. Refsnyder could receive a start over Starlin Castro or Carlos Beltran, but it's hard to envision him seeing much playing time outside of pinch-hitting for now.

The impending return of Alex Rodriguez on Thursday (when the Yankees begin a series against Oakland) could mean that Refsnyder will only be with the team for a couple days. A corresponding move have yet to be announced, but it's likely that Chad Green is sent down with CC Sabathia scheduled to return from the disabled list on Friday.

Also being called up to the big leagues is James Pazos, who figures to assume a middle relief role in the bullpen following yesterday's exhausting effort. He'll likely replace Conor Mullee or Phil Coke. Pazos, 25, holds a 2.35 ERA in Triple-A, including a 9.98 K/9 and ugly 7.04 BB/9. His control has never been great, but Pazos has generally sat at a BB/9 of about 4.0, and things should trend back down to that mark with time. Pazos also threw five scoreless innings for the Yankees at the end of last season and was on the roster bubble this spring along with several other young relievers.

Update

Luis Cessa, James Pazos and Rob Refsnyder are with the Yankees tonight.

Chad Green & Conor Mullee optioned, Phil Coke DFA.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 17, 2016

So Luis Cessa is coming up instead, and all of Green, Mullee, and Coke are gone. That's that.