The New York Yankees’ left-field decision for American League Division Series (ALDS) left many fans enraged as Alex Verdugo was given preference over top prospect Jasson Dominguez for Game 1. While Verdugo had his career worst regular season campaign, Jasson was just getting used to the big leagues.
However, Alex Verdugo redeemed himself on Saturday with two singles and a walk, as all three of those successful plate appearances would result in a run-scoring. After the New York Yankees 6-5 win, the left-fielder opened up about crowd hostility and reflected on the challenges he had to overcome amid a horrific season.
Alex Verdugo Justified Yankees Crowd’s Anger Towards Him
In the New York Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS, left fielder Alex Verdugo delivered a standout performance that surprised many fans, especially given his regular-season struggles. Throughout the 2023 season, Verdugo faced challenges, recording a career-low of .233/.291/.356 slash line in 149 games, which frustrated fans and increased calls for top prospect Jasson Dominguez to replace him. However, Verdugo remained resilient. Reflecting on the tough season, he acknowledged the frustration from fans but also from himself. He leaned on his teammates for support, who reminded him that he could redeem his performance in the playoffs, where every pitch and at-bat counts. “Fans booing me, getting on me, I understand it. I was booing myself, too,” he said.
Notably, Alex Verdugo’s previous postseason experience with the Boston Red Sox, where he posted a strong .310/.383/.452 slash line in 11 games in 2021 gave hope that he could deliver in October once again. He lived up to that promise in Game 1 against Kansas City, going 3-for-4 with two singles, a walk, and three runs scored. And his key moments included a leadoff single that set up Gleyber Torres’ two-run homer in the third inning and a game-winning RBI single in the seventh. Looking ahead, Verdugo aims to build on this momentum in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium as Aaron Boone confirmed his start at left field. He understands the importance of contributions from every player, noting that not just the big names will carry the team in the postseason. “It’s going to take everybody. Every at-bat, every pitch in the playoffs matters. This is the kind of baseball that I love,” he added.
Jazz Chisholm Pokes Fun At Angels While Praising Alex Verdugo
Jazz Chisholm Jr. took a light-hearted jab at the Los Angeles Angels while praising his Yankees teammate Alex Verdugo. After the 6-5 win over the Royals in Game 1 of ALDS, Chisholm discussed Verdugo’s ability to thrive under pressure and perform in big moments, especially in major cities.
Highlighting Verdugo’s previous stints with Boston and Los Angeles, Chisholm humorously clarified that he wasn’t referring to the Angels when mentioning L.A. “He’s played in big cities before. He played in Boston, L.A, and I’m not talking about the Angels,” Jazz said. The comment didn’t sit well with Angels fans, who took objection as Chisholm issued a clarification on social media.
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