Yangervis Solarte making a name for himself

NEW YORK – So about that first name Yangervis Solarte. What's the derivation?

"It's a combination of my mother and father's names," Solarte said through an interpreter.

That's what you get when you combine Yanmili (mom) and Gervis (dad). Their son has gone from a virtually unknown eight-year minor-leaguer to making a name for himself in these early days of the season with the Yankees.

Solarte didn't appear in the season opener in Houston, but he came off the bench in game two. The rookie switch-hitter has started the seven games since then, including six at third. That's where he opened again in the Yankees' 5-4, series-closing loss to Baltimore Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

You could say he has been productive so far — historically productive.

After his two doubles Tuesday night, he owned six. That made him the first player since 1900 to deliver at least six doubles through the first seven games of his major-league career.

"You know what? I'm not going to try to figure it out," Joe Girardi said. "I'll just tell you, I like what I see. He's played extremely well, and he's taken advantage of this opportunity. We'll keep running him out there."

The first three starts of his career came with multiple hits, making him the first Yankee to do that since a guy named Joe DiMaggio in May of 1936. After going 1 for 4, Solarte is batting .429 — 12 for 28 — with a team-high seven RBI. And he has yet to make an error.

That came after he pushed utilityman Eduardo Nunez off the roster by batting .429 with two homers and nine RBI as a non-roster invitee in spring training. He played third, short, second and left.

Asked if he was surprised by his early success, Solarte said, "I am a little bit, but for that I give thanks to God."

Solarte started with the Twins' organization as an 18-year-old from Venezuela. After six seasons, he moved on to the Texas organization and spent the past two years in Triple-A. He said there were 13 teams initially interested in him after last season when he hit .276 with 12 homers and 75 RBI. But ultimately he chose a minor-league deal with the Yankees.

"At the end, there were three teams and the Yankees were one of them," Solarte said. "It motivated me more that they were watching me and they were interested in having me since the beginning.

"They also offered me a lot of opportunity and it was close to my family, and family is No. 1 for me."

Actually, his family is in Miami. That includes his uncle, Roger Cedeno, who played the outfield in the majors for 11 seasons and was with five teams, including the Mets. Uncle and nephew spoke for two hours Tuesday night.

"I watched my uncle from when I was a baby," Solarte said in his only comments in English. "Now I listen to him every day. He played with the Mets. He knows New York."

Kelly Johnson originally was going to be a big factor at third with Alex Rodriguez suspended for the year, and he may still be. Solarte, who grounded into a game-ending double play on this night, figures to cool at some point. But he's loving this right now.

"I always said that once I reached Yankee Stadium, that was when the dream was going to come true," Solarte said. "Everything I've experienced so far, I've appreciated. It just motivates to give even more."

Twitter: @bheyman99