Despite their lackluster first half of the season, the New York Yankees didn't underperform as bad as the New York Mets. But still, it has not been a great start for the Yankees.
Nearing the July 4 holiday, the Yankees were as many as 9.5 games out of first place in the AL East behind the Tampa Bay Rays with the surprising Baltimore Orioles sandwiched between them in second. Currently the Yankees head into the All Star break falling to 4th place in the #AmericanLeagueEast behind the Toronto Blue Jays, with a record of 49-42.
After splitting a series with the Baltimore Orioles (which they took the first two games, then outscored 20-4 in the second half of the series), and then losing a back breaking two out of three games to the Chicago Cubs to head into the break. An offense that has been without Aaron Judge for a long stretch is below average, putting further stress on a pitching staff that has actually yielded just the sixth-fewest runs per game in Major League Baseball.
Catchers:
Jose Trevino, C: Following an All-Star emergence last season, Trevino has struggled mightily at the plate, slashing .210/.252/.301 (.552 OPS) as of July 2. His game-calling ability and defense behind the plate has salvaged his value, but he’s becoming a liability at the bottom of the lineup.
Kyle Higashioka, C+: Much like Trevino, Higashioka is providing next to nothing at the plate, but we give him the slightest edge because he was the man behind the plate calling Domingo German’s perfect game in Oakland against the Athletics.
Infield:
Anthony Rizzo (1B) B: Rizzo had been one of the Yankees’ better bats before a run-in with Fernando Tatis Jr. in late May injured his neck. His .267 average and .784 OPS rank second on the team amongst qualified batters behind only Judge.
Gleyber Torres (2B) B-: Torres continues to show that he has above-average power for a player at his position, but he’s been unable to recapture the magic of his first two seasons in the majors. Pair that with some discomposed play both in the field and on the basepaths and it’s been nothing more than a mediocre first half. It is concerning every time his name is thrown around in the media, he seems to make some bone head defensive blunders.
Anthony Volpe (SS) B-: A majority of the first half was a horrid introduction for the Yankees’ supposed shortstop of the future as he looked utterly lost at the plate. But following a 72-game start in which he slashed an abysmal .189/.264/.350, a change in his batting stance has offered some promise. Shoutout to Austin Wells and the chicken parm dinner which has seemed to get Volpe back on track. Ranks 5th among MLB shortstops with 13 home runs.
DJ LeMahieu (3B) D: For a player whose value derives from an experienced bat, he’s won two batting titles. LeMahieu is struggling in his age 34 season. Batting just .225 as of July 2, he’s on pace for the worst offensive season of his 13-year career.
Josh Donaldson (3B) F: 10 of his 15 hits this season are home runs. He is hitting .156 and legit looks like he is guessing everytime he swings. However, manager Aaron Boone is remaining loyal to Donaldson despite his horrendous struggles. Injuries have limited his season to just 31 games, but it still hasn't been pretty.
Outfield:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, B: I would like to be the first to apologize to IKF. The natural shortstop has adapted well to his new role in the outfield and his bat appears to be coming along as well. He has done everything the Yankees have asked of him and never once made excuses or complained about it. In 70 games played he is hitting .255, five home runs, 23 RBI's, and a .683 OPS. He also has four innings pitched, allowing 1 run.
Oswaldo Cabrera, D-: Cabrera’s defensive versatility gives him some value, but he’s been ineffective at the plate, batting just .204 with a .568 OPS over his first 74 games.
Aaron Judge, A: Judge was putting together another elite season before an early-June injury derailed his 2023. In just 49 games, he blasted 19 home runs with a 1.078 OPS. His return can’t come soon enough.
Harrison Bader, B: Bader is another talent who has been limited by injuries. Limited to just 43 games, a .746 OPS with seven home runs and 30 RBI is a solid output for an above-average defender.
Designated Hitter:
Giancarlo Stanton, F: Another season of injury issues, another season of uninspiring production. Stanton is batting just .203 with a .685 OPS and nine home runs in 41 games.
Starting Pitchers:
Gerrit Cole, A: Cole is enjoying his best spell in pinstripes since his first season with the team in a COVID-shortened 2020. He’s 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA, 123 strikeouts in 117 innings pitched. Most importantly, he’s stayed healthy as a steady presence in a constantly-changing starting rotation.
Clarke Schmidt, B: What does it say about the state of the rotation when Clarke Schmidt has started the second-most games this season behind Cole? Regardless, the 27-year-old appears to be rounding into form. Over his last eight starts, he has a 2.55 ERA.
Domingo German, C+: This grade was going to be infinitely worse had it not been for that magical night in Oakland when German spun the 24th perfect game in MLB history. In his previous five starts before the perfect game, the righty allowed 21 earned runs in 24.1 innings pitched (7.77 ERA).
Nestor Cortes, D-: Currently on the 60-day injured list, Nasty Nestor had been mediocre. He had a 5-2 record despite a 5.16 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
Luis Severino, F: Working his way back from injury was an accomplishment in itself for Severino, but the righty has contributed literally nothing to the rotation with a 7.38 ERA across nine starts. He is 1-4 on the season.
Bullpen:
The entire Yankees get an A for their dominance in the first half. Despite an under performing offense, and the starting rotation being consistently shaky, the Yankees bullpen has done their best to weather the storm. Behind the standouts of Tommy Kanhle, Ian Hamiliton, Clay Holmes, Wandy Peralta, and Michael King.
