Yankees prospect Chris Gittens is forcing the issue

Butch Dill-USA TODAY SportsAt six-foot-four and 250 pounds, Chris Gittens cuts an imposing figure manning first base for Double-A Trenton. The 25-year-old steadily rose through the Yankees system after being drafted out of Grayson County College in Denison, Texas. This season, however, he has broken out in a big way.

Gittens showed promise from the start of his professional career, posting a 1.097 OPS in the Gulf Coast League during the 2015 campaign. In subsequent seasons with increased playing time, he showed more solid offensive production, moving through Low-A Charleston and High-A Tampa with a combined 34 home runs in 180 games.

After three years of steady progress, though, Gittens faced…