Times have been difficult this season for the New York Yankees, and the crisis is just going to deepen for the foreseeable future. This week, the team received a huge blow which is most likely to affect its successful run this season. The captain and the pillar of the offense, Aaron Judge, has landed on IL for an indefinite period. Judge suffered a toe injury against the Dodgers last weekend when he crashed into the fence while making a defensive play. The fall took a hard hit on his toe, which resulted in a second IL stint for the captain.
Undoubtedly, losing a notable figure like Aaron Judge is never easy. He was leading the offensive charts before the injury. Regardless, a $7 billion team like the Yankees has enough reinforcements on its deck. But the problem is none of them look in good touch so far. Yet, it’s high time the highly paid batters get their act together and at least try to fill for Judge, if not any better. Here are three Yankees players who need to pick up the slack in the captain’s absence and make meaningful contributions to the team’s success.
Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton just returned to the lineup last week from a hamstring injury alongside Josh Donaldson. The batter was in red-hot form at the time of injury. However, since his return, the DH is taking his time to adjust and regain the lost rhythm. He did hit a home run in the comeback game, but the bat has gone silent ever since. Regardless, Stanton has displayed flashes of his old true self, and since he is playing as a DH, his contributions will be solely focused on offense. With Judge sidelined, Stanton needs to step up as a consistent force in the lineup, providing the Yankees with the power and run production they need.
Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo, Aaron Judge’s best pal, had an explosive start to the season. Till Friday, he had slashed .278 with 11 HR and 32 RBIs. Moreover, it’s not the first time the onus has fallen on Rizzo’s shoulders. When the captain skipped 10 days in May due to a hip injury, it was none other than Anthony Rizzo who produced significant offensive numbers to keep the team’s campaign afloat. Hence, the baseman understands the depth of it and is expected to fill in for Judge till the latter’s absence. Currently, Rizzo is struggling on the plate, but a player as experienced as he knows how to overcome it.
Jake Bauers
Jake Bauers‘ promotion to the major league was a result of Aaron Judge’s hip injury in May. More than offense, Jake created an impact on the field while taking a sensational catch in his debut game. While he missed the next few games due to injury, the outfielder has displayed positive signs. Hence, his role will be to secure the defense. That being said, Jake can contribute to the offense as well. In the last seven games, he has slashed .316 with two home runs and four RBIs. All Bauers needs to do is seize this chance to make an impact and provide the Yankees with a spark in Judge’s absence.
