The Yankees coach has been sued by his own trusted player for a hugely terminated project.
His own reliable player has filed a lawsuit against the Yankees coach for a project that was abruptly abandoned. A judge dropped former prospect Garrison Lassiter’s $34 million lawsuit against the New York Yankees in May, it was disclosed on Thursday.
Because Lassiter was a shortstop and Derek Jeter was scared to compete against him, Lassiter claimed that the Yankees and the future Hall of Fame shortstop were plotting against him, according to NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty.
Lassiter, a 2008 MLB draft selection out of Clemmons, North Carolina’s West Forsyth High School, was chosen by the Yankees in the 27th round. Lassiter never advanced above High-A ball in his five minor league seasons, hitting just.244 in 235 games with four home runs and 73 RBI.
Lassiter, according to Kuty, was suing the Yankees on his own behalf, claiming he was owed money for the “interference and lost years” of his baseball career. Lassiter added that after using the $675,000 signing bonus the Yankees provided him, he was forced to live out of his car.
Letters Lassiter wrote to MLB teams were included in the case. One of them said, “The New York Yankees are trying to control my career, so I can’t get on the field.” The only MLB player that will oppose the New York Yankees is me.”
Following the 2012 season, Lassiter departed the Yankees to pursue a career in football. Despite being a quarterback when he joined the University of Miami football program, he never played for the Hurricanes.
Lassiter thinks the Yankees held him back, but his former manager begs to differ. Aaron Ledesma, Lassiter’s High-A ball manager, reportedly told Kuty that Lassiter was “below average” overall and just “OK” offensively.
Ledesma added that Lassiter was transferred to third base because he lacked the footwork necessary to succeed at shortstop.
Lassiter claimed in his lawsuit that it was “blatantly obvious” that Jeter was the one holding the reins at the Yankees. Even if Lassiter had progressed to the Double-A level, there was little chance that he would replace Jeter.
In his 20-year tenure with the Yankees, Jeter batted and collected 3,465 hits.310 with 1,923 runs scored, 1,311 RBI, and 260 home runs. In addition, Jeter won five Gold Glove awards, five World Series titles, and was a 14-time All-Star.
