Author: Mr HoangAnh

Both Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu have been impressed by the Yankees’ new hitting coach.

As the New York Yankees try to get back into the postseason, James Rowson was hired as the team’s new hitting coach. In the lead up to Opening Day, Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu are fully bought in to Rowson’s system.

It won’t be the first time Rowson has been with the Yankees, as he coached with the team for nine seasons. Seven of those years he served as New York’s minor league hitting coordinator. From minors to majors, Judge and LeMahieu believe the Yankees found the right candidate in Rowson, via Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.

“He gets the side of analytics and the swing mechanics, the biomechanics of your swing,” Judge said. “But he also understands game planning and being in the box, and what it means to stand in the box when you’re facing 98 MPH with some sink and a nasty slider.”

“I’d heard a lot of good things about him from players on other teams,” LeMahieu said of Rowson. “I’ve had really good sessions with him as well. I think it’s a really good fit.”

The Yankees ended their 2023 campaign with 673 runs scored, ranking 25th overall. New York traded for Juan Soto in hopes of more run scoring opportunities. But alongside Soto, Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu and the entire squad, James Rowson must do his part in getting the Yankees’ offense back up to speed.

The team was clearly impressed with what Rowson had to offer when they hired him away from the Detroit Tigers. That decision has worked out so far, with numerous Yankees swinging the hitting coach’s praises before Opening Day even commences.

The water is quite wet nowadays and the sun too is a little bright. Those are some obvious statements, just like this one – Juan Soto has a team interested in signing him!

Of course, they are, the 25-year-old’s talents almost guarantee a wide pool of suitors to choose from. However, the name that has come up right now could very well send the New York Yankees into a little panic mode – it’s the Mets.

USA Today via Reuter

The Mets’ current offseason has been nothing more than a temporary bandaging. The team’s high payroll has ensured that things remain a little stagnant for them financially. However, next season won’t have such issues and that has opened a massive door for them. What if Soto enters through it? That certainly would be a game-changing move, but things aren’t as simple as they look.

The Juan Soto – New York Mets connection takes birth

The Mets faced off against the Yankees yesterday, they ended up defeating their Bronx Neighbors 5-4. While Soto was absent from that game, it looks like his name was already spreading across the Mets Clubhouse. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Mets “fully intend” to take part in Juan Soto’s sweepstakes next season.

One of the primary reasons for the Queens Side’s subdued offseason this year was their payroll. More importantly, it was the high salaries they owed to Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. However, next season Scherzer’s salary will be gone and so will other players’ as well. According to Spotrac, the current tax payroll of the Mets stands at $312.2 million. In 2025, it is predicted to go down to $160 million.

So with such a huge space becoming available to them, it isn’t surprising that the team is looking to go all in for Soto. After all, even without such a privilege the Mets had offered $325 million to Yoshinobu Yamamoto this offseason. So one can guess just how hungry Steve Cohen is for a winning player to be a part of his roster.

However, there’s a slight worry here. It’s not that the Yankees can prove to be a big competitor, it’s that the Mets are also targeting another huge free agent next offseason.

Could the Pete Alonso pursuit affect this connection?

The Mets are expected to go for their homegrown superstar as well. The fact that the team hasn’t offered any extension yet shows that they’re getting ready for his free agency. While Pete Alonso’s sweepstakes aren’t expected to go as high as Juan Soto’s, it will be huge nonetheless. Would the Mets want to go for both of them at the same time?

While one does not doubt the Mets’ ability to afford both of these superstars at the same time, would they want to again get that much burden over their shoulders? The sky-high payroll has already made the team suffer, so it makes one vary any prediction. However, smoke will clear eventually – it always does.

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – After a four-year wait, a former New York Yankees great is coming to Elmira.

Bucky Dent will be this year’s special guest at the Elmira Pioneers Hot Stove Dinner on Friday, April 19 at The Clarion Inn in Elmira. Exact time for the dinner will be revealed very soon.

Dent was originally slated to attend the dinner back in 2020 but the coronavirus outbreak canceled the event at that time.

The 1978 World Series MVP, Dent was a three-time All-Star and played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with four different teams. Dent went on to be the manager of the Yankees in 1989 and 1990.

Bucky will sign autographs and take pictures with fans at the Hot Stove Dinner which kicks off the baseball year in Elmira. For ticket information visit ElmiraPioneers.com and their Facebook page.

The Elmira Pioneers season-opening game is Friday, May 31 vs. Batavia at historic Dunn Field at 6:35 PM with fireworks to follow. A full schedule reveal from the Pioneers and the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) is also coming soon. The Pioneers are the defending PGCBL West Champions.

LeMahieu’s 2023 was uncharacteristic and saw him move around the lineup constantly. In 2024, his value as a leadoff hitter could truly separate the top of the Yankees’ order from the rest of the pack.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Since the start of Yankees spring training, the talk of the town is Juan Soto, and understandably so. One of the best hitters, if not the best all-around hitter in baseball, has made his way to the Bronx, and naturally, questions have revolved around his spot near the top of the batting order with Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, and Giancarlo Stanton.

However, with that star power, there needs to be a great setup man, which is why DJ LeMahieu’s potential for resurgence as a leadoff hitter for the Yankees could be one of the most underrated and important narratives coming into 2024.

During an ESPN spring training game between the Yankees and Mets, Yankees fans who were watching had the chance to hear from the skipper, Aaron Boone, about LeMahieu and the work he has put in over the winter to get back to where he was before last season’s struggles.

“He looks as good as I’ve seen in a few years,” Boone said. “His lower half is so much more explosive. He’s moving well, he’s running well. He looks more dynamic in the box. I thought he made a good adjustment to put a pretty good second half together last year, but to me, he’s taken an even bigger step physically with the work he’s done this winter.”

After talking about what the Yankees utility man was able to do to get back on track over the winter, Boone mentioned how important LeMahieu’s approach is, especially at the top of a lineup featuring those star names.

“When DJ is right, he embodies that ‘grind you down’ [mentality],” Boone said. “He’s willing to see pitches, especially when he’s hitting in front of Judge or Soto. He’s not afraid to go to two strikes and make you work with the idea of getting on base at a really high clip.”

Having a consistent leadoff hitter is a luxury the Yankees had when LeMahieu was on, and it was a huge, yet semi-underrated position in the order.

The step Boone is referring to was a necessary one, as LeMahieu’s production was uncharacteristic over the course of 2023. In 136 games, he slashed .243/.327/.390 with a 101 wRC+ and a 1.1 fWAR. His strikeout rate of 22.2 percent was a career-high and the highest since his first time in the majors at 22 years old (19.4 percent). His walk rate also finished at 10.7 percent, a 1.7 percent decrease from the 2022 season.

As a further aside, LeMahieu tied his lowest career wOBA at a mark of .315. However, unlike the previous time he hit that number in 2021, his xwOBA (.320) suggested his production was about right. For context, his xwOBA in 2021 was .340. He also had the lowest xBA of his entire career at .252, with his previous career-low being .274.

All of those numbers showcase just how different LeMahieu was in the batter’s box last year compared to years prior. Because he was so different, it forced Boone to take action and move players around the batting order. Over the course of 2023, 10 different players hit in the top spot of the order. LeMahieu started the majority of the games there with 58, but compared to the rest of his tenure as a Yankee, that number is much lower as well.

From 2019-22, LeMahieu hit leadoff 409 times in 470 games, an 87-percent clip. In a single season, he didn’t start fewer than 72 percent of his games in the leadoff spot. But in 2023, that number dropped to 42.6 percent.

Whether or not it was because Boone couldn’t trust him to hit in front of Judge anymore or he wanted to try different looks with Gleyber Torres and Anthony Volpe (for the most part) hasn’t exactly been established. LeMahieu was hurt for a period during the season, so that plays a role, but in 78 games, LeMahieu was in the order and not hitting leadoff. Considering the offense’s production as a whole last season, it’s not necessarily surprising to see players shift around more than normal to try and find some sort of consistency, but a bit surprising focusing on LeMahieu and where he’s started consistently as Yankee.

However, with the news that LeMahieu looks the best Boone has seen and all of the attention on the resurgence of Stanton and Rizzo, along with the introduction of Soto, who absolutely loves the spotlight, we could see LeMahieu bounce back and create the value everyone knows he can generate from the leadoff spot.

Spring training is still spring training, but everyone watching the bottom of the second inning between the Yankees and the Blue Jays on March 1st got an example of what the top of the Yankees order could do in any given game.

LeMahieu walked. Soto walked. Judge walked. And Rizzo hit a grand slam.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily showcase a resurgence in LeMahieu’s hitting ability, but it does showcase what could happen if LeMahieu can bring his strikeout rate back to earth, increase his walk rate just a bit, and get on base using his bat. The three players behind him can drive him in, but it’s just a matter of getting on-base by any means necessary.

If LeMahieu can find his bat again in the leadoff spot, it could be the way that the top of the Yankees’ order separates themselves from their peers in the AL East and even MLB as a whole. They need much more production than last season if they want a chance to compete for a World Series championship. Nailing down a leadoff hitter in front of Soto, Judge, Rizzo, and Stanton would be a fantastic start, and if the LeMahieu of years past can relish in the shadow of his counterparts who find themselves with more media attention and find his way back, it would be a huge boost for the lineup and a weight off many shoulders, especially the manager’s.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has the luxury of plenty of options in the field in 2024. With an 82-80 record last year, the Yankees suffered through their worst season since 1992.

But New York’s front office has restocked, and Boone has high hopes for the 2024 MLB season. The Yankees outfield is a big reason for that hope, and Boone outlined his plans for their depth at the positions when talking on ESPN during an in-game interview on March 5.

On March 4, Boone spoke in detail on MLB Network about his thoughts on the club, saying he’s “excited about where our group is.” Boone has said in spring training that returning to an elite offense in 2024 is a reasonable expectation.

Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Alex Verdugo Will Headline Yankees Outfield

There are no shortage of big names in the Yankees outfield for the 2024 season. With their blockbuster acquisition of Juan Soto in December 2023, New York bolstered its strong lineup even more. A day before that, the Yankees agreed to a rare trade with the rival Red Sox to acquire Alex Verdugo.

But with Soto, Verdugo, and returning superstar Aaron Judge, the Yankees have an odd issue at hand. All three players have done their best work in right field recently, and none of them are a natural fit in center field. As Forbes’ Daniel Epstein said after the trades, “They will now stack two of the best hitters in the world back-to-back in their lineup. In the outfield though, they have a handful of puzzle pieces that don’t seem to interconnect.”

How Will Yankees Manage Outfield?

GettyGiancarlo Stanton bats in a game against the Diamondbacks.

Along with the three players likely to log the most innings in the outfield for the Yankees, they also have Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham. Stanton is nearly a lost cause in the field at this point. He’s struggled to stay healthy enough to even play much DH for the Yankees in recent years, and his performance at the plate has steadily declined.

In November, Stanton and Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman had to clear the air according to NorthJersey.com’s Pete Caldera. Cashman made comments about Stanton saying, “He’s going to wind up getting hurt again more likely than not because it seems to be part of his game.”

With Stanton’s ability in the outfield dwindling, Grisham is the more likely option to get significant playing time. The two-time Gold Glove winner in center field is the perfect option in between Judge and Verdugo — with Soto at DH — but his production at the plate has been rough. Grisham has hit under .200 in consecutive seasons and only managed to break a .300 on-base percentage last year with an improved walk rate.

According to Boone’s ESPN interview during the Yankees 5-4 spring training loss on March 5, he’s leaning toward playing Judge in center field with Soto in right and Verdugo in left. This would allow the Yankees to DH Stanton, giving them their most dangerous lineup.

Where to Expect Yankees Outfielders in Opening Day Lineup

While Boone told reporters and the NY Post’s Greg Joyce that he wanted to see DJ LeMahieu leadoff for the club in 2024, it’s possible that one of the outfielders could get the chance.

“If we can solve that leadoff spot — look, I want it to be DJ and hopefully it is, but certainly Alex Verdugo up there is a possibility — if that leadoff spot gets settled, then we have a chance to be a really special offense,” Boone told reporters.zSoto and Judge will almost certainly fill in directly behind the leadoff spot as two of the best hitters in baseball. But many people have been trying to project the rest of the Yankees lineup behind them.

The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty gave their input on the potential lineup on March 4. They have Soto batting second in left field, Judge batting third in center field, Stanton batting fourth at DH, and Verdugo batting seventh in right field.

DJ LeMahieu (3B)

Juan Soto (LF)

Aaron Judge (CF)

Giancarlo Stanton (DH)

Anthony Rizzo (1B)

Gleyber Torres (2B)

Alex Verdugo (RF)

Jose Trevino (C)

Anthony Volpe (SS)

Tyler Duke covers golf, MLB and DFS for Heavy.com. An Atlanta-based sports journalist since 2014, his bylines include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, SB Nation, Catena Media and Fox Sports South. He is also a devout golfer and former content producer for the PGA Tour. More about Tyler Duke

This year’s Major League Baseball season is set to serve a platter of battles. Particularly, a new chapter is unfolding in the MVP race of the American League.

Enter the New York Yankees‘ dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and their newly acquired Juan Soto. While both are frontrunners for the prestigious award, is Soto a notch higher in his chances?

Sure, it’s hard to dethrone Judge from being the betting favorite. But whispers of Soto potentially taking his teammate’s place are growing louder. Jim Bowden of The Athletic shared his opinion on this race for MVP. Some say it’s too early to conclude, while some bet on Soto’s dominance. Either way, deep diving into this subject is nothing less than intriguing.

Juan Soto’s Dominance Might Bring Him an MVP Tag This Year

In choosing the 25-year-old Dominican as his early pick for the award, Bowden stated, “I considered picking his teammate Aaron Judge, the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez or the Rangers’ Corey Seager, but went with Soto, who I think will have the best year of his career.” This bold prediction has sparked a brand new perspective giving rise to a question – Can the young prodigy truly outshine the reigning ‘Captain Judge’? There are various reasons and let’s break them down.

Firstly, batting alongside or behind Judge would provide Soto with extra protection and an improved pitch selection. Judge’s dominant presence at the plate forces opposing pitchers to work steadily, often leaving favorable pitches for the hitter that’s after him in the lineup. Another trailing factor is that this could lead to increased walk rates and higher on-base percentages for the left fielder.

Secondly, there will be the ‘Judge factor’ at play in the Yankee Stadium. The short porch in right field is known for working in favor of power hitters. Soto’s already impressive launch angle would likely translate into more home runs on this hitter-friendly ballpark. All this in conjunction with Soto’s ‘contract year’ with him entering free agency at his peak age, his motivation to reach great heights might be on a whole new level.

On the flip side, dismissing Judge’s MVP chances would be too premature.

Aaron Judge Has a Strong Case Too

It’s no secret that the reigning MVP is a force to be reckoned with. The 2022 MVP boasts a combination of power, speed, and on-base skills sparking fear in opposing pitchers.

Moreover, the team’s overall performance will have a huge effect on individual MVP voting. Now, if the Yankees falter, not only would it dim Judge’s chances but also Soto’s regardless of their individual stats.

Eventually, the 2024 AL MVP race is projected to be a duel between two unmatched talents. On one hand Juan Soto’s entry into the Bronx has added great interest. On the other,  Aaron Judge remains a tough opponent. This MVP run is going to be a treat for the Yankees fans.

The New York Yankees were in disarray last season. The leading cause of that struggle was their ineffectual hitting.

That led to Brian Cashman sacking a coach before the end of the season for the first time in his career. While things barely improved then, the Pinstripes have seemingly turned a new leaf this offseason. The appointment of James Rowson has met with a lot of cheers, especially from their captain – Aaron Judge.

The Pinstripes’ primary issue last season was the apparent disconnect between their coaching staff and the players. This lack of communication proved to be a bane for much of the organization. As a result, the Yankees have had a small-scale revolution in their front office with the change in their analytics team and the appointment of a new hitting coach.

In Rowson, they’ve found a coach who is an expert plus has great communication skills. Due to his honest critiques, the coach has found players flogging around him. The Athletic reported that Aaron Judge is one player who is highly impressed by Rowson. “He gets the side of the analytics and the swing mechanics, the biomechanics of your swing,” said Aaron Judge.

“But he also understands game planning and being in the box, and what it means to stand in the box when you’re really facing 98 mph with some sink and a nasty slider,” declared All Rise. Rowson has brought a wealth of experience with him, having spent time as a hitting coach in the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. He was the bench coach of the Miami Marlins as well.

So it’s obvious he’s getting respect from the Yankees clubhouse. But there’s one more reason for this – the relationship between Aaron Judge and James Rowson goes back years.

Aaron Judge’s previous experience with James Rowson

From 2014 to 16, Rowson worked as a hitting coordinator for the Yankees. During this time, Judge was exploding into the scene as the next big thing in baseball. They both used to go back and forth with each other regarding Judge’s hitting technique. This fostered a relationship that has stood the test of time.

“It’s lasted because of the way we built it,” Rowson shared. “It was built on being honest. It was built on trust, and it was built on having that back-and-forth conversation that we have about hitting. We talk through it,” the coach finished. Judge had something similar to say as well.

“He challenges me every single day and we go back and forth on things, which is great. I love it,” the Yankees captain shared about James Rowson. Their words reveal the immense respect that they have for each other. With the entire clubhouse in full support of him, Rowson’s methods certainly seem to be working.

In a perfect world, the Yankees would have 25-year-old superstar slugger Juan Soto locked up on a long-term extension. However, general manager Brian Cashman acquired Soto for one year in his final year of arbitration, paying him $31 million for the 2024 season.

Soto has one goal in mind: a dominant year with the Yankees and leveraging that for a monster contract. The expectation is that Soto will earn a deal upward to $450 million over a minimum of 10 years, so the Yankees certainly have to be willing to splash the cash for a player of this magnitude.

Soto’s Spring Training Performance and Extension Talks With the Yankees

Fortunately, if they sign Soto to a 10-year deal next season, he would still be younger than Josh Donaldson was when the Bombers acquired him from the Minnesota Twins two years ago.

Soto has been lighting up spring training and giving the Yankees every ounce of confidence to make a major offer for him next off-season. Over four games, Soto has hit .667/.727/1.889, including three home runs and seven RBIs with an 18.2% walk rate.

Both Cashman and Soto are on the same page when it comes to potential extensions, waiting until after the upcoming campaign to begin discussing options. However, Soto recently told The Athletic that he’s leaving it all up to super-agent Scott Boras, who has taken good care of him since he was just a youngster.

The Role of Scott Boras and Soto’s Future

“I just believe in Scott (Boras, his agent). He’s been with me since I was a little kid and been helping me out with everything.”

Of course, Boras is one of the league’s biggest agents and is known for his ability to generate record-breaking contracts. The Yankees know they will have to pay up beyond their comfort zone, but a player like Soto doesn’t come around very often and Hal Steinbrenner is in the money making business, something that Soto can certainly help him do.

For the Yankees, nothing makes them more money than winning and drawing new eyes, which Soto will certainly provide with his generational bat and confident persona.

Cashman has developed a roster this off-season that should have World Series aspirations, given their bill of health remains clean. With that being said, the Yankees have another long season starting up in late March and their new newly built outfield should play a prominent role in their success.

Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are embracing the hitting philosophy of new coach James Rowson, who prioritizes player communication and connection, aiming to enhance the performance of veteran hitters like Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu after a tumultuous previous season.

The Big PictureThe hiring of James Rowson reflects a shift towards prioritizing communication and player-centric coaching to revitalize the Yankees’ hitting performance.

By the Numbers

The Yankees were eight games back in the American League East at the all-star break last season.
James Rowson spent several hours hitting with star players like Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres before spring training, focusing on individualized coaching strategies.

State of Play

Rowson’s coaching approach emphasizes personalized communication and understanding the unique needs of each player.
His background includes a decade-long relationship with Aaron Judge and influences from baseball luminaries like Don Mattingly, shaping his holistic coaching style.

What’s Next

With Rowson’s player-centric approach and emphasis on communication, the Yankees anticipate improved hitting performance and player development in the upcoming season.

Bottom Line

James Rowson’s coaching philosophy centered on individualized communication and player engagement is poised to transform the Yankees’ hitting approach and elevate player performance, providing a pathway to success in the upcoming season.

The New York Yankees made several roster additions this winter in hopes of rebounding from a disappointing 82-80 campaign in 2023.

Looking ahead to next winter, they’ll have to drop a lot of money to retain outfielder Juan Soto on a long-term deal. But what about infielder Gleyber Torres?

He’s also slated to become a free agent in November and will be making $14.2 million in 2024 while donning the pinstripes, per Spotrac.

As part of a series of articles at The Athletic, Tim Britton shared contract projections for a handful of players set to hit free agency at season’s end. He made sure to note that this was “an exercise in player valuation, not commentary on the likelihood of an extension being signed.”

Regarding Torres, his extension projection came in at four years and $68 million. According to Spotrac’s market value calculation, that’d be a $60 million discount. With an annual market value of $18.3 million, they’re projecting a seven-year, $128 million deal.

Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres wants to stay in the Bronx for his entire career. Would he take a hometown discount to make it happen?

Torres Is Hoping to Be a Yankee for Life

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic caught up with Torres at New York’s spring training complex in Tampa, Florida on March 5. When asked about his upcoming contract status, the second baseman was adamant about wanting to remain in the Bronx for the rest of his career.

“I always say, I feel (at) home right now,” Torres said. He continued by saying, “I know this organization since 2016. I feel good. I know everybody. As a player, you never want to leave your house. I’m in a good spot. I want to be a Yankee for life. That’s one of my goals. Let’s see what happens.”

Torres landed with the Yankees at the 2016 trade deadline. New York sent Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs and received four players in return. In addition to Torres, the Yankees also netted Adam Warren, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford.

The 27-year-old made his MLB debut in 2018, and his first two big-league seasons were quite good. He was selected to the All-Star Game on both occasions and put up big numbers. Torres posted a .820 OPS with 24 home runs and 77 RBI as a rookie. He followed that up with a .871 OPS, 38 homers and 90 RBI in 2019.

Torres didn’t finish another year with an OPS of .800 or higher until 2023. That number finished exactly at .800 to go along with 25 homers, 28 doubles, 68 RBI and 90 runs scored. He also threw in 13 steals, his third straight season with at least 10 thefts.

Brian Cashman Doesn’t Sound as Sure About That

While Torres has been clear about his desire to stay with the Yankees for the long haul, general manager Brian Cashman is understandably keeping things close to the vest.

He addressed Torres’ contract situation on February 16. “He’s our second baseman for this year,” Cashman said, via WFAN. “Haven’t had any conversations about anything past that.”

With Opening Day fast approaching, a preseason extension seems unlikely to happen. But could something come together during the regular season? “Who knows? I don’t know,” Cashman said about that possibility. “As of right now there hasn’t been any discussions on that.”

A lot can change in the coming months. However, it certainly seems as if Torres will find himself on the open market next winter while still hoping to re-sign with the Yankees.

Matt Musico covers Major League Baseball for Heavy.com and has been writing about baseball for the past decade. He’s the creator of MLB Daily Dingers, and his work has been featured on numberFire, MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Report, Elite Sports NY, and Yahoo! Sports. More about Matt Musico