6) Mitchell, a 6-foot-3, 204-pound outfielder, has long exhibited a … He was amazing for the Yankees, and one of our best hitters. 99 in pinstripes. Will he maintain a starting job, or will Clint Frazier emerge to steal playing time? However, he’s carved out numbers that are quite impressive. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Cole is seeking his 20th consecutive win, dating to May 27, 2019. New York Yankees Today's Hitter Projections New York Yankees hitter projections for today's game. The team’s two biggest stars, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton being among the most notable. While you might want to consider him injury prone at this point, he did manage to play in all but seven games between 2017 and 2018. He struggles to stay on the field with various injuries and frustrates you all year because he’s that good when he’s in the lineup but you can’t bank on him. He gets stuck in a platoon but still contributes to the strong side of it against right-handed pitchers, and you pick and choose your spots with him. The Yankees Best Fastball Pitcher In 2020 Yankees employed few standout arms in the 2020 season despite losing several projected contributors to injuries. He reins in his plate discipline and drives the ball more, pushing him into easy starter status because of the opportunities he gets. When you look at numbers like that, it’s no wonder that the Yankees had one of the top two offenses in the league, putting themselves within two wins of a World Series date with the Washington Nationals. Projections see the runs tapering off but the steals sticking around, and drafters aren’t even taking late-round fliers right now. 12. Sanchez has struggled with injuries and consistency, never truly replicating the success of his 2016. Following the same three-year sample size as the rest of the bunch, Judge’s numbers look other-worldly: .279/.401/.572 with a wRC+ of 157 and a wOBA of .405. The remaining four do swing lefty, but each of them -- Mike Ford, Mike Tauchman, Tyler Wade and Estevan Florial-- are backups at best. This one is the most frustrating one of the bunch, as people live with a “what have you done for me lately?” mindset. The ball continues to aid Gardner’s slugging, and he’s a sneaky value guy for your club beyond chipping in double-digit steals. This might ruffle some feathers, but Posada is the third-best Yankees offensive catcher ever. He was also noticeably less rigid at the dish, which primes the body’s muscles to be as efficient as possible. … We will be presenting the case, as well as assessing who the No. Giancarlo Stanton played in only 18 games last season and only nine before an October tune-up at the end of the year. While the health has remained in question, the production has remained constant. In 2019, there were effectively two versions of Gleyber Torres: the one who played the Orioles and slashed .394/.467/.1045 and the one who played the rest of the league and slashed .267/.316/.470. In 2019, there were effectively two versions of. The concept of being the “best” at something is a very loaded one, as there are multiple ways to be a productive member of a lineup. He’s already 29, so how soon might we see a step back? 2020 Performance He was amazing for the Yankees… Elsewhere, there wasn’t much interest in Aaron Hicks during the preseason as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery that would have kept him out until about mid-season during a regular season. He slashed just .194/.326/.347 after August. Marwin Gonzalez, 31 years old – INF/OF (Bats: S) 2020 Stats (53 G): .211 BA, .286 OBP, .320 SLG, 15 R, 4 2B, 5 HR, 22 RBI. His .278/.371/.541 (.913 OPS and 143 OPS+) batting line is nothing short of elite. The Yankees go into 2020 with the apparent fortune of not having enough spots for all their talented players. The most interesting thing about Urshela is how he swings out of the zone more than 90% of the league but managed to make 30% less soft contact than average. He’s healthy and adjusted to New York as he puts up something closer to his 2017, where he slashed .281/.376/.561. On top of that, Judge has an ISO of .293, 117.6 wRAA, an OPS of .973, and walk-rate of 16.5 percent. The New York Yankees have one of the best lineups in baseball. Some think the team could still add a shortstop, shift Gleyber Torres to second base full time, and get wild with how they deploy DJ LeMahieu and the rest of the infield. First base looks as though it might be about 10 deep before a dropoff and he offers a ton of upside at the back end of that, or later. He walked less than normal but posted a .610 SLG, a .948 OPS, and 156 OPS+, leading to a ninth place finish in MVP voting. Garrett Mitchell, OF, UCLA (No. Only last year’s Twins hit more, with 307. Grabbing him around the sixth round could still be good value, especially if the ball continues to reward contact-oriented hitters. In terms of true talent, he’s easily the second-best hitter in the Yankees lineup. Aaron Hicks is a switch hitter, but he is the only one that can take advantage of right-hand pitchers. © 2020 Copyright Prime Time Sports Talk. That stretch, combined with how the Yankees managed to be exceptional last year, seems to be convincing people he’s going to be more of a bit player than another bludger in what could easily be the best offense in baseball. We could consider him young with tons of upside in a great situation, or we could consider him young with ropes to learn before getting the most out of his skills. He stays healthy all year, jacks 50 bombs, and you smile nearly every day you check the box score. You could’ve gotten your utility guy much later. A cold streak in 2020 could yet again open the door for one of the Yankees best hitters just two seasons ago. Luis Gil, RHP. He was the 3rd-best second base-eligible option in the fake game and is being taken as the 11th so far this offseason. Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey are one and two, no doubt, then … Of those 13, 11 of them had a 115 or above wRC+. As injuries continued to plague the star hitter, he decided to retire at the age of 36 after playing in 12 seasons with the Yankees. Health might be the only catch: Sánchez has missed time each of the last two years with groin injuries. Sánchez all year. 99 in pinstripes. In an era predicated on the offensive side of the ball, the New York Yankees have built an offensive juggernaut in hopes of capturing their 28th World Series title. Right now the early draft boards are saying you can let the season start to find out, and he’s probably worth eyeing as an early waiver claim. During the shutdown, it was revealed that Judge would likely be out until summertime per Brian Cashman, which puts him right in line to return for the beginning of the season. The Yankees will have arguably baseball’s best offense last year, if healthy. He’ll still likely be an above-average bat even if he doesn’t match last year’s career year, as the Yankees seem to have found a way to help him optimize his tight launch angles. The login page will open in a new tab. But that’s neither here nor there, as we’re basing things off of the past three seasons. The key to his development, as far as we know, is the team getting him to keep two hands on the bat as he moved the barrel through the zone, allowing for more power. Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter). Aaron Hicks could slide into the leadoff spot. Over that span, Judge ranks first among Yankees in wRC+, wOBA, OPS, and wRAA, as well as second in ISO and walk rate. Most of the Yankees’ best hitters are righties: Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez, LeMahieu, and Gio Urshela are all right-handed. Alex Bregman established himself among baseball's best hitters in 2019 with a 1.015 OPS, 41 homers and 112 RBI for the Astros. Tauchman maintains control over the starting left field job all year and pushes 20 homers and 20 steals. 10. One of the few bright spots in what’s becoming a forgettable season for the Yankees has been Luke Voit ’s emergence as the best (healthy) hitter … That said, Sánchez still looms as an elite option should you find yourself wanting an impact bat in the middle of the 6th round or so. They are also not taking advantage of the Yankee Stadium design, namely that sweet short porch in right field. In 2020 for some reason he was heavily critiqued despite him being healthy and consistent. Aaron Hicks is due back from Tommy John surgery between June and August, and though he might be hard to keep from the lineup, he might not provide much offense if former teammate Didi Gregorius gives any indication. He’s the best catcher in the fantasy game. Currently, they have none on the roster. DJ LeMahieu bats right handed, he’s listed as a LHH. 2020 Projection: 66 R, 18 HR, 67 RBI, 2 SB, .268/.312/.419, 2019: 96 R, 38 HR, 90 RBI, 5 SB, .278/.337/.535 | SS #13. Gary Sánchez offers almost as complete a package as possible at catcher, coming up short in only batting average and steals. Even with this excellence, Voit’s best season came in 2020 as he led the league in home runs with 22. His rib injury was originally called a minor one, but as the spring progressed, the timeline for him to resume baseball activities kept getting pushed back, and his likelihood for Opening Day was looking more and more unlikely. The groin gives way to multiple, tedious IL trips, making you wonder if you could’ve chosen someone who provided less stress where you snagged ya boi instead. Like first base, second base falls off a sneaky cliff after the first 10 guys or so. And don’t forget, he’ll be eligible all over the infield. The early rumors on the Yankees hot stove make this a plausible pivot if they do not re-sign LeMahieu. With the team clearly all-in on 2019, will they decide to just find an upgrade from the outside? Sanchez burst onto the scene with an explosive 2016 campaign, posting a slash line of .299/.376/.657 with a wRC+ of 170. In 213 games as a Yankee, Voit has slashed .279/.372/.543 for an OPS of a whopping .915. I think every Yankees fan wants to see those players at the plate with runners on base as much as possible. 2020 Projection: 91 R, 19 HR, 75 RBI, 6 SB, .285/.344/.435, 2019: 73 R, 21 HR, 74 RBI, 1 SB, .314/.355/.534 | 3B #16. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0) and Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow (0-0) are the scheduled starters in Game 1 of a doubleheader Saturday. They had the 2nd-best wRC+ at 117 and did it all with a merry-go-round of unexpected players consisting of DJ LeMahieu, Giovanny Urshela, Mike Tauchman, Cameron Maybin, Mike Ford, and others. He plays to that ~15th overall shortstop level. He'll turn 26 in March and looks like a perennial MVP contender. That is pretty sensational for somebody who has been dubbed “soft,” “overrated,” and “bad” for the previous 18 months by his own fan base. While Luis Severino and James Paxton were the big stories, the Yankees hitters were not without their health questions either. Since winning the National League MVP in 2017, all he’s done is be productive when healthy. Regardless of any potential progress, Torres will still get to play the Orioles 19 times this year and get to play a bunch in the launching pad that is Camden Yards. 2020 Projection: 49 R, 16 HR, 49 RBI, 1 SB, .250/.341/.446, 2019: 109 R, 26 HR, 102 RBI, 5 SB, .327/.375/.518 | 2B #3. Aug 2, NYY (7-1) beat BOS, 9-7. Find him Going Deep for PitcherList. None of his stats should really be considered in determining his value going into 2020. The Yankees ’ best hitter from a statistical standpoint is very clearly Aaron Judge. ... 2020; Posted Dec 10, 2020 . For 2020, he should still be a dominant force with a 2.90 FIP, 37% K%, 10.3 BB% and a 2.5 fWAR/60. He posted two big years in the minor leagues in 2017 and 2018 where his ISO was a combined .236, his walk percentage was in the double digits, and he swiped 28 bags. The concern, then, becomes health. He hits enough for the batting average to be palatable and the phrase “fast, for a catcher” didn’t become a thing by accident. That’s the best shortstop in baseball vs. the ~15th best in a Jekyll and Hyde-like package. If you’re going off pure upside, Luis Gil has the highest for any pitcher in this system. The Yankees should keep Giancarlo Stanton as a full-time designated hitter New, 31 comments The Yankees shouldn’t plan on using Stanton in the field too often in future years. Proudly Designed by 10:60 Designs (2020). Despite them not matching the depth of Kevin Cash's infamous stable, the upper echelon of yanking was capable of bringing the heat. Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier would have likely been penciled into Judge and Hicks’ spots and were intriguing options in their own right. Urshela was a revelation for the Yankees after they lost Miguel Andújar early in the season. The power and speed combo Tauchman showcased in his first extended major league stint last year seem to suggest the skills growth he demonstrated in the minors might be real, even though projections are bearish. Still, he missed time with a core injury at the end of the season and struggled when he did play at that point. You scooped up a steal who should’ve cost much more. 2020 Projection: 85 R, 33 HR, 92 RBI, 7 SB, .272/.339/.509, 2019: 46 R, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 6 SB, .277/.361/.504 | OF #96. However, both of them would rank within my top five Yankees hitters. That’s the question everyone’s asking. However, from the Yankees’ standpoint, there’s a very clear and obvious frontrunner for the best hitter on the team. offers almost as complete a package as possible at catcher, coming up short in only batting average and steals. Like Judge, he’s going to get his if he’s in the lineup. You can be the best hitter in the sense that you lead them in home runs, but you can also be the team’s best hitter based on your quality of contact and expected stats. Coles: Giancarlo Stanton Will be the Yankees' Best Hitter in 2020 - Pinstriped Prospects THE ONE-TIME EDITORIAL USE OF THIS IMAGE IS SUBJECT TO A NONEXCLUSIVE, NONTRANSFERABLE, NONSUBLICENSEABLE REVOCABLE LICENSE (“LICENSE”) GRANTED AT NO COST BY THE NEW YORK YANKEES PARTNERSHIP (“LICENSOR”). There are better options abound at third base but in fantasy, he presents as a solid corner infield option or bench bat. While he has had his run-ins with the injured list, the fact remains that there should be nobody else in the Yankees ’ lineup that you’d want to face less than No. Had he managed to have more volume than 53 games (229 plate appearances), he might’ve been able to usurp Detroit’s Michael Fulmer for American League Rookie of the Year. The most recent update has him on track to return for the season, which is good news for fantasy managers, but the injury risk is always going to be there with Judge, and in a shortened season, a setback could cost him half the season. Please log in again. Voit has been one of the best hitters in the league since joining the Yankees in 2018. He’ll be useful to you as a fill-in guy when another player goes down, or as a reliable bench bat. Catcher is deeper than we might expect, too. Health holds up and the power is consistently there for Sánchez all year. Power score: 198. In 2019 alone, the team had 13 hitters (min. He hits closer to when he was a Rockie than anything else. Once again, the best power hitter in MLB The Show is Joey Gallo. He’s still being taken as the 14th outfielder off the board thanks to his gargantuan power and, like so many of his talented teammates, will probably see a bump in counting stats thanks to the lineup around him. Copyright © 2021 Pitcher GIFS Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 hitter is for one of baseball’s most potent offenses. As low as $4.99/month! 2020 Projection: 105 R, 41 HR, 101 RBI, 6 SB, .254/.372/.524, 2019: 8 R, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .288/.403/.492 | OF #199. (That group in 2020 combined for a slash line of .188/.291/.296, a … That’s basically Giancarlo Stanton. You could buy a ticket to their lineup at nearly any point in the draft and enjoy the show all season. We’re left with a dude who can pop 30+ homers in the heart of an elite lineup, helping him cruise to an above-average amount of runs and even more RBI relative to the playing time he’ll see. Only last year’s Twins hit more, with 307. Health was yet again the main story for the Yankees in the beginning part of 2020. 9. Can DJ LeMahieu possibly come close to replicating his 2019 season in 2020? They nearly managed it last year with what at times seemed like a cast of misfit toys unsuited for the spotlight in the Bronx. He played in more than half of the Yankees games and his 128 wRC+ was the team’s fourth-highest of players with at least 250 plate appearances. He swung at the third-most pitches in the zone among all shortstops last year who had at least 400 plate appearances but made the sixth-least contact on those same pitches. Eleven of them hit right-handed. He hits enough for the batting average to be palatable and the phrase “fast, for a catcher” didn’t become a thing by accident. You ever hear somebody get called “overrated” so many times that they become underrated? 99 is when he steps into the batter’s box. If you look at his entire career, you see those numbers are even worse: 97 wRC+ (below average), a .336 wOBA, a .120 ISO, and just 75.0 wRAA. He’s human, so he’s still prone to some incredibly cold streaks, but the fact remains that Judge is one of baseball’s most feared hitters. If you base it off of 2019, LeMahieu is one of the better hitters in the league. All Rights reserved. Projections are bullish so far, too, and he’ll be eligible at multiple positions. Player Profiles 2020 2/17/2020 The 2019 New York Yankees hit the second-most home runs of any team ever with 306. 2020 Projection: 102 R, 49 HR, 116 RBI, 3 SB, .267/.355/.529. The skills are still absolutely elite— he finished 2019 with the second-highest average exit velocity on balls in the air at 99.5 mph, the seventh-highest barrel rate, and a walk rate nearly double the league’s average. Aug 3, NYY (8-1) beat PHI, 6-3. Like Voit, Mike Tauchman, and LeMahieu to an extent, Urshela is another great case of the Yankees taking someone else’s depth chart castoff and helping them turn into something much, much more. He’s the best catcher in the fantasy game. As a bigger body at a position that wears guys down, and where its occupants are actually getting smaller, that’s worth stowing in the back of your mind. 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