Aaron Boone quickly brought Austin Slater into the mix.
Slater, who joined the Yankees after being traded from the White Sox just before the MLB trade deadline on Wednesday, was in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game against the Rays.
He took the field in right field and hit seventh in the order.
“Every kid dreams of playing for the Yankees,” Slater shared before the game.
In the trade, the Yankees gave up pitching prospect Gage Ziel.
Slater, a right-handed hitter, has had success against left-handed pitchers and is noted for his pinch-hitting ability. He came into Thursday’s game this year with a solid .859 OPS against lefties.
Interestingly, he also leads MLB with eight pinch-hit home runs since 2017.
This is the role he anticipates taking on with the Yankees.
“That’s been my career path over the last five years. It’s become second nature for me,” Slater explained. “I get ready for those pinch-hit opportunities, especially against left-handed starters.”
“Facing lefties is something I’ve been comfortable with since I was a kid. But when you haven’t faced a righty in a few weeks, it can feel a bit unfamiliar,” he added.
However, in his debut, Slater faced Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, who, notably, is a right-handed pitcher.
“Pepiot has been formidable against lefties this year,” Boone commented. “With Trent Grisham dealing with a hamstring issue after last night’s lengthy game, we wanted to be cautious. Hopefully, Slater can bring some energy and help us out.”
Slater’s arrival comes at an interesting time. He has transitioned from a struggling team in Chicago to becoming part of a playoff contender with the Yankees.
“I watched the game on Wednesday, and the atmosphere was amazing,” Slater mentioned. “That’s a big reason why I love playing this game. It really motivates me.”
