Spring training concluded with mixed results for the New York Yankees, offering some encouraging developments.
Bummer for the New York Yankees: their spring training season was a health disaster, mainly due to the losses of star pitcher Gerrit Cole for the entire year and part of next, plus the indefinite absence of Giancarlo Stanton along with the setback of Luis Gil, who will miss at least three months due to a high-grade lat strain. To add injury to insult, Cole underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow, and Stanton was fighting off injuries in both of his elbows that started last season and sidelined him for some January games.
Despite the gloom and doom, the Yankees sported a few sunny moments as they ventured towards the season as defending AL champions since 2010. One such bright spot was Austin Wells' growing comfort in his new role as a leadoff hitter. This is an extremely uncommon position for catchers, with only five games last season featuring a catcher in this spot (William Contreras, Ryan Jeffers, Adley Rutschman, and no Yankee catcher ever). But Wells handled it with finesse, hitting an impressive .329 in exhibition games, even blasting a homer against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Manager Aaron Boone commented on Wells' performance, saying, "I've really liked him in that spot. I think he profiles well for it. But there's also a number of guys I could still envision being in that role. That hasn't changed necessarily. It's more the fact that I just really like what I'm seeing with Austin and think he can be pretty dynamic there."
In search of options for the top of the order, Wells' positive production provides another choice for the Yankees. Last season's leadoff hitters combined for a paltry .249 average, 16 homers, and 64 RBIs, with Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe alternating in the role.
By no means was Wells becoming a leadoff hitter the only positive development for the Yankees, who are grappling with how to make up for the absence of Juan Soto, who joined the New York Mets. But the team did have an interesting surprise in backup catcher J.C. Escarra, who will start the season in that role. The 29-year-old caught the Yankees' attention with a .302 batting average in Triple-A and a batting title in the Dominican Winter League.
These accolades earned him a spot on the 40-man roster, and he has maintained a .333 average heading into the season, just a few years after driving for ride-share employers and teaching as a substitute. The Yankees informed him he made the team, and in classic viral fashion, manager Aaron Boone broke the news to him in a heartwarming social media clip. "You're going to the big leagues. You've earned it. What a journey. It's just getting started," said Boone. Escarra wanted to prove himself as more than a feel-good story, saying, "I want to show that I'm a prospect of some sort, I can help the team win, and that I'm here to stay."
The Yankees have high hopes for Ben Rice, who had his first opportunity in the majors when Anthony Rizzo fractured his forearm in a collision at Fenway Park June 16. Rice, a converted catcher, had little experience at first base when he stepped in for Rizzo. His debut resulted in an impressive three-homer day against the Boston Red Sox on July 7, but he otherwise struggled with a .171 average, seven homers, and 23 RBIs for the rest of the season.
With Stanton sidelined, the Yankees looked to Rice as a potential replacement, and he made the team this spring with a .278 average, five homers, and nine RBIs in 17 games. The Yankees are invested in Rice's growth, hoping his experience in the past month translates into the regular season and beyond.
Whether these developments pan out and help the Yankees navigate the six-month journey to a potential postseason berth remains to be seen. But in a season marked by significant injuries, any glimmer of positivity is a welcome sight for fans and players alike.
- Despite Gerrit Cole undergoing Tommy John surgery and the injuries of Giancarlo Stanton and Luis Gil, the New York Yankees found some positivity in the form of Austin Wells' performance as a leadoff hitter during spring training.
- The Yankees are considering J.C. Escarra as an option for the top of the order due to his impressive performances in Triple-A and the Dominican Winter League, earning a spot on the 40-man roster.
- Ben Rice, who made his major league debut in 2021 due to Anthony Rizzo's injury, is being eyed by the Yankees as a potential replacement for the injured Giancarlo Stanton, having made the team this spring with promising showings in exhibition games.
