The Yankees have kicked off their season on a strong note, winning seven out of their first nine games and sitting at the top of the league standings as they enjoy a day off on Monday. Their pitching rotation has been impressive, boasting a 1.81 ERA, which is the best in the majors, even without contributions from Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clark Schmidt.
Things are looking up for the team. Still, considering their history as contenders—it’s been since 2009 since they’ve truly been in the running—it’s essential to note any weaknesses as much as the positives.
Of course, we’re still in early April—most games have been played with fans bundled up in blankets—yet, one thing that sticks out is the performance of the lower part of the batting order.
In the first two weeks, the Yankees’ 6-7-8-9 hitters posted historical lows: a .143 batting average, .167 slugging percentage, and .404 OPS. That said, individual performances were in a small sample size; they collected only 15 singles and three doubles from 143 at-bats.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the need for improvement after a loss to the Marlins, where the bottom of the lineup went 2-for-17. “We need more production there,” he stated, adding, “And we will.”
It’s probably premature to hit the panic button, but it might be wise to keep an eye on this aspect of the team.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Fans shouldn’t worry too much about Chisholm’s hitting ability. His two-run double in the ninth inning on Sunday, which brought the Yankees within a run, could be just the spark he needs. “I think it will help a lot,” he remarked, adding, “We’re just going to work day by day and improve with each at-bat and hopefully get on a roll soon.”
Last season marked his first full year with the Yankees, and he struggled in cold weather during March and April, posting his weakest averages. Despite that, he still made the All-Star team with a 30-30 record.
Austin Wells
Wells is an intriguing prospect, known more for his potential than his current performance at the plate as a rookie catcher. Despite starting 4-for-24, he has shown some capability, even hitting the ball hard but often leading to weak outcomes. Boone noted that Wells had some solid at-bats over the weekend, including a seven-pitch duel with Calvin Forcher that ended in a long flyout.
“I think there’s a lot more we can do offensively, and I hope we continue to progress,” Boone commented during spring training.
Jose Caballero
For Caballero, stepping up his hitting is crucial if he hopes to claim the starting shortstop position when Anthony Volpe returns in about a month.
He’s had a rough start, managing only four hits in 31 at-bats. His defense has also been shaky, evident from a misthrow to Ben Rice on Sunday. He does pose a threat on the bases with three stolen attempts, but his .206 average needs improvement.
“He’s been struggling a bit,” Boone observed, “He’s swinging at some pitches, but he typically performs better.”
Ryan McMahon
McMahon has had an underwhelming start, sitting at 2-for-23 with 11 strikeouts—a disappointing follow-up to his previous seasons at Coors Field. Boone suggested that McMahon could be “in the middle” of figuring things out rather than just trying to make solid contact.
He’s been focusing on drawing walks and has also made adjustments to his swing this offseason, narrowing his stance at the plate. It’s a reminder that sometimes, changes take time to feel automatic.
“It can take a while for adjustments to begin feeling natural and for them to happen without overthinking,” said assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes during spring training.
