The New York Yankees have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. It was a tough season for the Yankees missing out on playoffs for the first time since 2016. Alex Rodriguez was on that 2016 team, which goes to show how successful they have been over the past decade, and yet, they still have not been able to add that title to their name. Overall, it was a hard season with Rizzo, Stanton, and Judge all dealing with injuries all year. It feels like everything needs to go right for this team to make a deep playoff run.
The team leaders for the offense side of the team were Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge. Torres led the team in average with a .270 average. Aaron Judge led the team with 35 hrs and 71 runs batted in. But the Yankees were still one of the worst hitting teams in the league with the 29th best average in the league with a .226 average. 2 players who seemed to never get going on offense this season were Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson. Josh Donaldson was eventually released and picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers after suffering a calf injury in July.
No shocker that Gerrit Cole put up a Cy Young contending season. Dealing on 32 starts with a 14-4 record with a 2.75 era and 5th in the league with 217 strikeouts. Unless there is a historic robbery Gerrit Cole will walk out of the 2023 season with a Cy Young award. Other than Cole, this pitching staff has been super underwhelming. Carlos Rodon, who was our big offseason pick, dealt with injuries and when he came back, he was unimpressive. In 64 innings, he had 64 strikeouts with a 5.74 era. All career lows. Frankie Montas, who should be a big piece for this team, did not pitch a single inning this year. Nestor Cortes Jr. didn’t look like himself before unfortunately coming down with a season-ending injury. To add to the frustration, the Yankees could have a really good pitching staff, but the players all need to be 100% healthy.
There is something to look forward to next season for Yankees fans involving new players. Rookie Anthony Volpe became the first rookie in Yankees history to notch a 20-20 season, with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Late in the season, Everson Pereira, Jasson Dominquez, and Austin Wells were brought up from the Yankees Double-A team, Somerset Patriots. Jasson Dominquez and Austin Wells were called up slightly after Everson Pereira for the series against the Astros in the beginning of September. The Astros series was arguably the most enjoyable part of the season where the Yankees swept the Astros with all 3 players providing a hit in the first game of the series. Jasson Dominquez homered in his first-ever at-bat off of future hall of famer, Justin Verlander. Dominquez ended the season with 8 hits in 31 at-bats, including 4 home runs before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Everson Pereira provided 12 hits in 77 at-bats but is yet to hit his first professional home run. Austin Wells had 11 hits in 58 at bats including 3 home runs.
As published on Yahoo Sports, Aaron Judge told the Yankees media that there are, “a lot of things to change,” after a 7-1 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks that officially eliminated the Yankees from playoff contention.
It was for sure a rough season for the Yankees, but at least there is something for Yankees fans to be excited about come the 2024 season.
