The New York Yankees have had a strong start to the 2023 MLB season, winning 10 of their first 17 games.
New York Yankees have laid the foundation for another strong MLB season. In the past five years, the team has made it to the playoffs each time, registering 100 wins for two consecutive seasons. However, their ultimate dream of winning the World Series title remains unfulfilled. Nonetheless, the new year has come with fresh hope.
Last weekend, the Yankees became the only team yet to concede a series defeat this season. Despite injury concerns, the Bombers have managed to hold it together as a unit, with each player stepping up when asked to. While it’s still early in the season, some fans and analysts are already overreacting to the team’s hot start.
Gerrit Cole Is A Lock For The Cy Young Award
New York Yankees ace starter Gerrit Cole has undoubtedly been the best pitcher of the season so far. In four starts, he recorded a 0.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched, including two shoutout outings. On top of that, Cole is yet to concede a home run this season. While it’s clear that Cole is one of the best pitchers in baseball, it’s premature to say he’s a lock for the Cy Young Award.
There are plenty of other talented pitchers in the league who could have strong seasons, such as Shohei Ohtani, Shane McClanahan, and Clayton Kershaw. In addition, there’s always the possibility of an injury or a slump that could derail a pitcher’s Cy Young candidacy.
Yankees Rookie Anthony Volpe To Steal 50 Bases
Anthony Volpe is a 21-year-old debutant for the New York Yankees this season. The shortstop underwent a grilling competition in the spring and came out with the most deserved debut cap. However, his performance with the bat has been somewhat underwhelming. In 17 games, he has scored one homer, five runs, and two RBIs with a batting average of .180. But by now, he has stolen as many as seven bases. The stolen bases rate has been at a record high this year due to the new pitch lock rule.
Hence, Volpe is making good use of it, and his electric run on the base paths has left fans and analysts alike in awe. Thus, the MLB pundits believe the rookie can register 50 stolen bases in his rookie season. However, 50 is too high a number. After all, Volpe is just a rookie with minimal experience. Moreover, he could face a slump or injury in the second half of the season, which further reduces the possibility.
Gleyber Torres To Finish In Top 5 MVP Rankings
Yankee’s second baseman, Gleyber Torres, is off to a flying start in 2023 with two home runs and six RBIs with a batting average of .269. The former all-star almost got traded during the off-season, and these stats have certainly been a miraculous turnaround. However, the fans seem to have gotten slightly overexcited as they think he will finish in the top 5 MVP candidates list. No doubt Torres has had a good start, but how long he can retain the form remains to be seen. Moreover, recent injury concerns could further limit his time on the plate. Hence, finishing as a potential MVP candidate looks highly unlikely at the moment.