NYY News: The Captain, and Clutch
New York Daily News | Peter Sblendorio: Aaron Judge has heated up over the last week or so, including a huge series against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend, but the Yankee captain isn’t happy just yet. Judge went 5-for-10 against a trio of solid Tiger starters, but remarked that “until I’m hitting 1.000” there’s still work to be done getting himself back on track. Lots has been written about Judge’s slow start, but in the last seven days he’s posted a 147 wRC+, much more in line with what we expect.
New York Post | Zack Braziller: Nestor Cortes owns some pretty major home/road splits to start 2024. The lefty is posting a 6.75 ERA away from Yankee Stadium, while in all four outings in the Bronx this year he’s pitched into the seventh. Cortes credits a usually raucous crowd for keeping his intensity levels up, even as we should expect some regression in both splits going forward.
NJ.com | Max Goodman: It’s not just that Juan Soto leads the Yankees in virtually every offensive category, it’s also that he seems to be at the center of every big moment. The superstar outfielder has a 1.300 OPS with runners in scoring position, admitting himself that he’s addicted to ABs in big spots. For those of us who saw him crushing Justin Verlander fastballs at 20 in the World Series, this is nothing new, but getting to see it happen in late and close situations for the Yankees has been the best part of the season so far.
MLB.com | Sam Dykstra: Yankees #2 prospect Spencer Jones has wowed scouts and fans alike with a red-hot spring training and is comfortably polishing his game with Double-A Somerset. An offseason adjustment has him getting the ball in the air more, specifically boosting his line drive rate by lowering his hands in his stance and hitting position. This shift, brought on by winter workouts with his fellow Vanderbilt alum, builds a more natural upward bat path and has Jones keeping the ball off the ground, where his eye-popping exit velos allow him to do more damage.