Yankees’ Strong Start and Early Concerns
The New York Yankees have had a remarkable start to the season, winning seven of their first nine games and taking every series they’ve played. Entering Monday’s off-day, they were tied for the best record in Major League Baseball. Their success has been driven by a dominant pitching rotation that has posted a league-low 1.81 ERA before even considering the contributions of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt.
Despite this early success, the team is still under pressure to win a championship, as they haven’t won a World Series since 2009. While it’s too soon to panic, identifying potential weaknesses is just as important as celebrating the strengths.
The Bottom of the Lineup: A Cause for Concern
One of the early concerns lies in the bottom of the lineup. Through the first two weeks of the season, the No. 6 through No. 9 hitters have been the worst in baseball in terms of batting average (.143), slugging percentage (.167), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (.404). Collectively, the group has logged 143 plate appearances and recorded only 15 singles and three doubles.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the need for more production from these spots after the Yankees went 2-for-17 in a series-ending loss to the Marlins. “We need to get more production there,” he said. “And we will.”
Key Players in the Bottom of the Order
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been a key player in the middle of the lineup, but his performance in the lower slots has been inconsistent. However, his two-run, gap-doubling in Sunday’s ninth inning brought the Yankees within one run, which could be a turning point.
Chisholm remains confident, saying, “I feel like that could help a lot. Right now, we’re just working day to day, getting better every at-bat and hoping to get hot here soon.”
Last year, Chisholm struggled with his average and OPS in March and April but still managed an All-Star, 30-30 season. His performance this season could be a sign of things to come.
Austin Wells
Austin Wells, a bat-first prospect, has shown promise as a defensive catcher but has struggled offensively. Through the early part of the season, he is hitting .167 (4-for-24) and has struck out frequently.
Manager Aaron Boone noted that Wells has had some solid at-bats, including a seven-pitch battle against Calvin Faucher that ended in a long flyout. “I still think there’s a lot more in there offensively,” Boone said.
José Caballero
José Caballero has started the season slowly, hitting .129 (4-for-31) and showing inconsistency both offensively and defensively. He recently airmailed a throw to Ben Rice, which was a concern for the manager.
While Caballero has stolen three bases, he needs to improve his batting average. “Been a struggle, a little bit,” Boone admitted. “He’s swinging through some pitches I feel like that usually he puts in play.”
Ryan McMahon
Ryan McMahon has also struggled, hitting just .087 (2-for-23) with 11 strikeouts. His performance has been disappointing, especially given his history of not finishing any of his nine seasons with an average OPS.
However, there are signs of progress. McMahon has been working walks and overhauled his swing this winter to be more efficient at the plate. Assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes noted that the adjustments are ongoing.
“Sometimes, it takes time for things to feel natural,” Dykes said. “To be able to repeat them without having to overthink it.”
