Although Juan Soto and his remarkable debut with the New York Yankees have received most of the attention, Alex Verdugo, the team’s secondary acquisition, is also generating a lot of buzz. Verdugo’s shift to the cleanup position has not only signaled a crucial role but also his increasing relevance on the team.
Alex Verdugo Takes Up the Cleaning Dutifulness
Verdugo, who is 27 years old and in a contract year, will likely be targeting a big free agency deal while playing out the final year of arbitration with a salary of $8.7 million. Verdugo has maintained his impressive play after batting .264 with a .324 on-base percentage in the prior season, which included 13 home runs and 54 RBIs. This season, through 33 games, he is hitting .261/.353/.417 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and a 124 wRC+. He has also significantly improved his plate discipline, going from a 10.3% strikeout rate to a 12.5% walk rate.
Role of Verdugo and His Prospects with the Yankees
Verdugo’s career has been highlighted by his exceptional plate discipline and ability to make consistent contact. Although his barrel and hard-hit rates are in the lower percentiles, he possesses a skill set that goes beyond power hitting to include strong playmaking when runner is in scoring position. In addition to potentially hitting 15 home runs this season, he is on pace to eclipse his career high of 13 home runs and record a double-digit walk rate for the first time in his career.
Verdugo has been just as dependable in left field, where he has played 287.2 innings while maintaining a perfect fielding %, four defensive runs saved, and two outs over average. His offensive output and defensive contributions have him on track for a 4+ WAR season, which would be quite valuable for the Yankees.
Verdugo’s market worth is expected to rise if he continues to set personal bests in a number of categories, possibly pricing the Yankees out of a future deal while they concentrate on getting Soto a long-term extension. For the future, the squad is probably thinking about substituting players like Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez.
The Yankees will take advantage of Verdugo’s performance for the rest of the season in the hopes that his contributions will be vital to fulfilling their World Series dreams.