New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo, who arrived in the Bronx in a controversial off-season trade from arch-rivals Boston Red Sox, displayed signs of a breakout in the initial two months of the season. He avenged scathing attacks from his former team by recording a multi-RBI night in Fenway Park.
However, the second-half regression has been hideous, and Alex Verdugo’s offensive numbers have plunged to an all-time career now. Despite repeated chances at left field, Verdugo hasn’t been able to shrug off the slump, leading to an immense amount of frustration that was outpoured following another hitless outing against Guardians.
Yankees Alex Verdugo Working On Adjustments To Regain Form
Alex Verdugo’s 2024 season with the New York Yankees has been anything but smooth sailing, and the frustration is clearly mounting for the outfielder. After an initial surge in the first half, Verdugo fell off the bandwagon after the All-Star break. On Thursday, the left fielder went 0-for-4 in the Yanks’ 6-0 win. His OPS has dropped to .641 with a .227 batting average, which is the worst amongst qualified major league hitters this season. Not only that but in the past 53 games, Alex Verdugo has been struck out 41 times and has a 0-for-19 record in the past five games. That being said, Verdugo admitted the slump was the worst phase of his career, as he had never encountered struggles of this magnitude.
However, Alex Verdugo also acknowledged that he has some work to do behind the scenes to refine his mechanics. He added how he is missing pitches that would normally land out of the park, and at times, when he gets a strong hit, somebody ends up making a great play, thus adding to his frustration. Nonetheless, the outfielders are confident of a turnaround sooner than later. “We’re close. It seems like we’re so far away, but we’re close,” Verdugo said. Notably, time is running out for Verdugo, who finds Jasson Dominguez breathing down his throat for a spot. Dominguez was recently called up for a game last week and went hitless. However, his prolific debut memories have prompted the Yankees fans to demand a promotion for the Martian. With just one week left for roster expansion, Verdugo stands on the brink of losing his regular starting role at left field.
Alex Verdugo Reveals Being Allergic To Batting Gloves
In a startling revelation, New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo revealed that he is allergic to batting gloves. Some of the materials and inks used in the manufacturing of the gloves cause blisters in Alex’s hands and fingers, leading to serious discomfort. He first started noticing the issue back in 2021.
Upon consultation with doctors, Alex Verdugo learned that he is allergic to batting gloves. However, the Yankees outfielder is yet to find a solution. He is using tapes as temporary six since proper treatment will require his undivided attention for months, including regular clinic visits. Its highly plausible that perhaps the allergies are directly or indirectly contributing to his struggles.
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