Jorge Mateo

Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo (93) runs around the bases after he hit a home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Kim Klement | USA Today Sports)

TAMPA -- Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo's slow introduction to center field is about to speed up.



The talented shortstop will start the season playing a couple games a week at the position as the organization looks to get him to the Bronx quicker, vice president of player development Gary Denbo said at the team's training complex Sunday afternoon.



Mateo will also play shortstop and second base. The Yankees pushed Mateo to second base almost full-time after acquiring new top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres from the Cubs for Aroldis Chapman at the trade deadline last year.

Mateo got his first reps in center during the instructional league in the fall.



He will begin at High-A Tampa, where he started hot but ultimately struggled after a team suspension in 2016.



"We feel like he still has adjustments to make offensively that we would like for him to start in the Florida State League this year and get off to a good start and see what happens, whether he's able to make it to the next level or higher," Denbo said. "But from all indications that we've got this spring, he's already in the process of making those adjustments."

McCann talks trade, Jeter



Denbo declined to discuss the adjustments Mateo has been asked to make.



Mateo hit .136 with a homer and a stolen base this spring. He was sent back to minor-league camp Friday.



"We don't take a lot of stock in spring training statistics. But what we do put stock in is when we see a player come back in better shape, bigger, stronger, his mindset is better, he's working harder and he's making adjustments offensively. The statistics don't always bear out how successful you are in spring training," Denbo said.



The Dominican Republic-born speedster has worked closely this spring with assistant big-league hitting coach Marcus Thames and Triple-A hitting coach P.J. Pilittere.



"The biggest thing that we looked for was ... the adjustments that he has to make in his development plan that you allow him to go forward and have success," Denbo said.



Last season, Mateo hit .266 with 26 stolen bases, five homers and 25 RBI before the Yankees suspended him for violating an unspecified team policy and forbid him to play in the MLB All-Star Futures Game in San Diego. After the ban, he hit just .236 with three homers and 11 stolen bases in 38 games.



Denbo said he watched Mateo's batting practice Sunday morning and that it was the best he'd ever seen from the youngster.



"I think he's on a mission this year," Denbo said. "He's going to come out and have a productive year."

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.