The New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is being tasked to resolve the conundrum an ideal hitting lineup as captain Aaron Judge has been on the receiving end of the Barry Bonds treatment off lately. He was intentionally walked thrice against the Blue Jays and also by the LA Angels as well.
Hence, Aaron Judge’s intentional walking increases the importance and responsibilities of the clean up hitter. While the New York Yankees have placed a rookie catcher in that spot, the inexperienced guys is apparently enjoying the challenge and embracing it quite well as previously anticipated.
Austin Wells Embracing The Challenges Of Clean Up Hitter
As the New York Yankees continue to navigate the ups and downs of the 2024 MLB season, one young player has embraced a significant role in the lineup. Austin Wells, a promising talent in the Yankees’ system, has stepped up to the plate, literally and figuratively, by accepting the challenge of hitting behind the team’s star slugger and captain, Aaron Judge. To battle the intentional walk treatment to Judge, skipper Aaron Boone promoted rookie catcher Wells to the cleanup spot to generate offensive production. However, it’s well documented that hitting behind Aaron Judge is no small task. The batter following him must be prepared to capitalize on any opportunities, including facing pitchers who might be more inclined to throw strikes to avoid walking Judge.
However, despite his inexperience, Austin Wells understands his responsibilities and his approach to hitting behind Judge is marked by a blend of patience and aggression. Since being promoted to clean up spot, he went 19-for-53 with a .358 average, two home runs, nine RBI and seven walks. In game 1 of the doubleheader against the Angels, the catcher went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk to guide the Yankees to a 5-2 victory. Meanwhile, Wells shared his experience on clean-up hitting and also if Barry Bonds treatment of Aaron Judge is intimidating. “If I was them, I’d be walking Judge too. I’m not taking it personally, but I look forward to the challenge,” Wells said. The rookie prospect added that batting behind the likes of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge is nothing short of a privilege. By being on the deck, he can get a better view of the pitches and understand the game better.
Yankees Skipper Not Too Bothered With Aaron Judge Getting Walked
Meanwhile, in a detailed chat on the Talkin Yanks podcast, New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone has posed a question on the trend of rivals wherein they intentionally walk captain Aaron Judge to avoid damage from the in-form slugger. Boone said he isn’t bothered as the Yankee lineup is getting stronger and deeper.
He added that with injured guys coming in and slumping veterans rediscovering the form, the New York Yankees lineup is potent enough to score runs. That gives an edge to guys like Juan Soto and Aaron Judge as they get to have extra at-bats. This way, the opposition cannot get rid of Judge all the time in a game.
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