Kevin

Russo

The 28-year-old utility player has spent his entire seven-year minor league career in the Yankees organization, compiling a .286/.350/.377 batting line. Russo is capable of playing second base, third base and all three outfield positions, and his versatility could allow him to compete for a bench spot with the Tigers in 2013.

Russo will provide depth for the Yankees while Robinson Cano is on the bench. Russo was hitting .302/.383/.425 in 27 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Russo wasn’t going to find many at-bats now that Robinson Cano is over a recent knee injury. He was 0-for-2 with a strikeout during his brief stint with the club.

Russo spent about five days with the Yankees earlier this season and went 0-for-2 in the short stint. He’ll again see limited playing time.

The game was scoreless all the way until the seventh inning, when Russo punched a two-run double into the right field corner off Elmer Dessens. Though he was primarily a second baseman in the minor leagues, Russo started in left field on Friday night. It was a memorable night for the kid, but he obviously won’t get enough playing time to warrant any fantasy attention.

The deal does not include a spring training invite. Russo, now 29, hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2010 as a member of the Yankees. He hit just .213/.252/.309 in 103 games with Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate in 2013.

Not many surprises in here, but now we know that Ramiro Pena has clinched a role with the big club as a backup infielder. Russo, 25, was 8-for-24 (.333) with three RBI this spring. He could still get a call later this season.

Russo will bat eighth for the Yankees, behind Curtis Granderson, against the Astros on Saturday. Russo is 5-for-36 this year in the majors, though most of his starts came in the outfield.

Gardner left Tuesday’s game with soreness in his left thumb, so perhaps he just needs another day. Kevin Russo will start in his place.

If manager Joe Girardi is going to ease Granderson back into the order, limiting his appearances against lefties is a good way to do it. Over his career, Granderson has hit right-handers much better than lefties, so there’s no reason not to give him his needed rest when the matchup doesn’t favor him anyway. Kevin Russo takes over in left field for the day.