Yankees Players Review
The New York Yankees came into the 2023 season hoping for a World Series appearance in October. They will go home early as the team significantly underperformed below expectations and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Multiple factors led to the meager 2023 season, including injuries, poor roster construction, and aging players. These combined factors have led to an 80-77 record with five games left in the season. This is the team that last year won 99 games on their way to the ALCS knockout against their rivals, the Houston Astros. What are the key factors that led to the current state of the New York Yankees?
Carlos Rodon
In the 2023 offseason, the Yankees signed left-handed ace Carlos Rodòn with the expectation that he would back up Gerrit Cole as the team’s lethal 1-2 punch. Unfortunately, Rodòn was injured for a significant portion of the season, first placed on the IL with forearm tightness in his throwing arm. During Rodòn’s rehab stint, he injured his back and was out longer than expected. While on his second rehab stint, Rodòn continuously felt off with his back while playing through chronic back pain. The injury significantly affected his performance on the field, as Rodòn could not locate his pitches. His BB/9(walks per nine innings) went up a staggering .11 percent compared to his previous season, where he led the National League in strikeouts.
Rodòn has also struggled to put batters away this year as his K/9(strikeouts per nine innings) dropped from 12 strikeouts per nine innings to only nine this year. There has been one positive takeaway from this year as Rodòn has been developing his changeup and curveball. The progress will significantly help him as he was only a fastball-slider pitcher previously. The combination of all four pitches heading into next year will help Rodòn by keeping hitters off balance with more unpredictability in his pitches. The team will improve significantly if Carlos Rodòn stays healthy and works well with this year’s potential American League Cy Young award winner, Gerrit Cole. The one-two punch will be crucial if the Yankees want to make any inroads in next year’s postseason since all the playoff teams have elite pitching.
Injuries
The injuries to key players Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo also significantly hampered the Yankees offense. At one point in the season, the Yankees had scored fewer runs than the Oakland Athletics. The same Athletics who have had their fans boycott the team and the same ball club that suffered a perfect game at the hands of Yankee pitcher Domingo German.
Aaron Judge
No one predicted this would have been possible before the season began. Multiple baseball experts such as Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo had the Yankees winning the Division. Aaron Judge was a big part of the predictions coming into the season. He was the reigning AL MVP after hitting an AL record sixty-two home runs in a single season. Judge started this season on pace to hit another sixty home runs. While trying to make a critical catch in Dodgers Stadium, Judge banged his foot into the concrete wall and tore a ligament in his big toe. He would miss a third of the season as his presence was missing.
Anthony Rizzo
Before Judge’s injury, Anthony Rizzo received a knock to the head while attempting to pick off Fernando Tatis Jr. Before Rizzo banged his head, it seemed as if he was going to have a career year; he had eclipsed the 10-home run mark and was batting over .300. However, from the collision onwards Rizzo was never the same. His batting average went down from the .300’s into the low .200’s. He hit one home run in that span before later being on the IL with concussion symptoms two months after the incident. Initially, he was diagnosed with a tight neck, which did not seem accurate to Rizzo. He described in an interview that he was swinging at pitches he never usually turns at. He went in for another checkup, revealing Rizzo had been suffering from concussion symptoms and effectively ending his season.
On field performance
Another contributing factor to the Yankees difficult season was the combination of aging players and poor roster construction. The Yankees entered 2023 without a left fielder thinking they would platoon the ever-struggling Aaron Hicks with Oswaldo Cabrera. Neither player performed, and Aaron Hicks was released early in the season but would have a resurgence with the now first-place Baltimore Orioles. Oswaldo Cabrera would struggle significantly and eventually opted for Triple-A to refine his swing. The Yankees still needed an actual left fielder as Jake Bauers, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Billy McKinney split time in the position, with none of them being able to stick for good. This left a hole in the outfield as each player had to learn to play the position on the fly, which created multiple strange defensive scenarios and errors.
Aging Players
Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton are two former MVPs who have struggled with injuries and performance in recent years due to age catching up with them. Stanton used to be in the top third in sprint speed amongst significant league players. He is now one of the slowest players in the league. Donaldson fought with calf injuries in his time with the Yankees, which was a significant hamper to his mobility. Both were batting near or under .200. Donaldson was Designated for Assignment and picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers as a depth piece for the postseason. The Yankees front office could only hope each player would bounce back from their difficult 2022 campaigns. They have further regressed to the point where sure Yankee fans wonder if Stanton, with his massive contract, can be traded.
Anthony Volpe
Despite the difficult 2023 season, the Yankee fans have much to be hopeful for as the next batch of baby bombers has arrived. Anthony Volpe has progressed this year and has been one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. Volpe boasts the league’s best 2.4 defensive WAR (wins above replacement) at the shortstop position. Jasson Dominguez has matched home run records set by Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. This before his untimely injury will see him out of action for nine months recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
The Kids
Now, with the emergence of Michael King potentially becoming an elite starting pitcher. The Yankees could have vaunted three-headed monsters in the rotation.
The progress of last year’s first-round draft pick, Spencer Jones, has kept Yankee fans on the edge of their seats. They must be wondering when he will arrive at the Major League level. Jones is similar to Aaron Judge due to his large frame. Jones is 6.7ft and 237 pounds, with his immense power and lefty swing.
The New York Yankees had an underwhelming season. Though one which leaves many Yankees fans hopeful for the coming year with all the young talent on the way. Next year, a healthy Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo could make a telling difference in the team’s offensive output. The Yankees will be better next year with a younger, more athletic team. There is much to look forward to next year.
Main Photo Credits: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
