By: Alex Sheesley
Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, and Didi Gregorius. Four Yankees, all part of the thirteen player IL. These four players have a combined 80 career WAR, 2,624 Hits, and 557 homers. This is just four players. Four of thirteen. Not to mention these are all hitters, while ace Luis Severino and setup man Dellin Betances are also down. Half of the team’s combined WAR is on the IL. Many thought these injuries may be the end of the Yankees season, but the season is long and these players are certain to return. But winning is everything, so the Yankees need to work with what they have. Alas, I present the misfit Yankees. A team that was brought to the Bronx to fight the injury bug and has over achieved thus far. In this article, I will detail the players who have turned the uncertainty of the season into a team that is second place in the AL East.
Mike Tauchman - OF
Tauchman, a 10th round pick in 2013 by the Rockies, is just 28 years old. Tauchman has been knocking the ball around the yard like Miguel Andujar, but his batting average is at .207. He’s recorded 6 hits, split half and half with doubles and homers. Tauchman is with the Yankees until 2025 and has potential due to the aging Brett Gardner. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the roster, even after a few star players come back.
Clint Frazier - OF
Red Thunder is a MLB-Ready talent, however has been on the IL due to concussions, holding him back. Despite these injuries, he is still a ripe 24 years old. He is Batting .339 with 6 home runs and 17 runs batted in. Frazier also has an OPS of 1.109. For comparison, 2018’s AL MVP Mookie Betts, had an OPS of 1.078 during his MVP campaign. The sample size is very small, but Frazier has shown his worth. So far has proved he is ready for the big lights, despite defensive woes. The question remains though, will the thunder roll on, or is he simply lightning in a bottle?
Tyler Wade - 2B
Wade is an interesting case for the Yankees. The 24 year old from California was drafted in 2013 and hasn’t gotten the full season stint on the Yankees roster. Due to the injuries, he has a shot, not just on the roster, but to make consistent starts. His hitting is sub-par at best. A career .182 hitter, with only one home run, and a .500 OPS. The defense is to marvel at, however. A .969 fielding% in MiLB and MLB, at almost every position. If he can even hit to the Mendoza line, he can be utilized as a utility man in the bigs. This route of bringing Wade up may be in the best interest for the Yankees if he does improve on the offense, as Wade has aired his dissatisfaction being in AAA ball. One thing is for sure, Wade seems to be having a very similar arch to Aaron Judge, who was touted for his defense as a minor leaguer. And, well, we all know how that one ended.
Gio Urshela - 3B
The replacement for Andujar is running out of time as Miguel is set to return. This said, Gio has a few more games to leave his mark with the Yankees. Despite making his debut in 2015, he has a bit of a Tyler Wade case, in that the third baseman hasn’t has substantial MLB service. A lot is left to be desired from Urshela, an average hitter without much pop, and average fielding metrics has not been reversed by Urshela in this stint, except for a .339 average in 62 at bats. Urshela has improved the hitting, but is still leaving a lot to be desired in his play at age 28. These Yankees are young and are proving something. They can win. Whether this is a product of the weak teams faced or just skill is interesting, but these fiery, young, “Misfit” Yankees are looking to make their mark and show the league they can play.
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