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Yankees Refsnyder sent down to minors

April 2, 2015
New York Yankees' Robert Refsnyder claps his hands after hitting a single to score teammates Jonathan Galvez and Jake Cave in the ninth inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, March 7, 2015, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Rob Refsnyder was a surprise cut for the Yankees on Thursday. (AP)

Rob Refsnyder did all he could to make the opening day roster, but the New York Yankees decided that he wasn’t ready for the big leagues just yet.

The 23-year-old Korean adoptee went 2 for 3 on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Tampa, Florida, only to be told that he was being sent down to minors. Raising the preseason batting average to sparkling .357 wasn’t enough to earn a spot.

“Refsnyder, I think he had a tremendous camp, but (he’s had) maybe 240 games at second base so far,” general manager Brian Cashman said.

It was an unpopular decision with Yankees fans, but the club ultimately did not want their highly regarded prospect to begin the season sitting on the bench behind Stephen Drew.

Drew, a nine-year veteran with a career batting average of 0.256, hit 0.260 for the spring.