This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
With fewer than three weeks remaining earlier than pitchers and catchers report back to Tampa, Fla., the Yankees are dropping hints as to what the group’s new-look lineup will imply for Aaron Choose.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone has mentioned that he envisions Choose occupying the No. 3 spot within the lineup, batting behind Juan Soto, whereas enjoying the vast majority of his innings in middle area.
“I give it some thought on a regular basis,” Boone mentioned throughout an look on the Foul Territory podcast. “Proper now, you’ll in all probability [see] Juan within the two-hole and Choose third. … I feel you begin with the concept hopefully Choose and Soto are hitting again to again over 150 instances this yr.”
Boone mentioned that the membership’s leadoff hitter is but to be decided, although he listed DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo as doable choices.
However the skipper seems to be locked in on the alternatives that Choose may see by batting behind Soto, who led the Majors with 132 walks final season for the Padres. Soto’s .410 on-base proportion ranked third within the Majors, behind solely Ronald Acuña Jr. (.416) and Shohei Ohtani (.412).
“Before everything, you begin with the pillars,” Boone mentioned. “I see Aaron and Soto hitting again to again; whether or not one is [No.] 2 and one is [No. 3], I’m not fairly positive but. It might rely upon who really is hitting in that leadoff spot; who’s hitting within the four-hole and past.
“I feel one of many thrilling issues in regards to the potential of our lineup this yr is the steadiness we’re going to have with upwards of 4 or 5 lefties within the lineup, so you may actually alternate issues.”
Soto not too long ago mentioned that he’s open to no matter lineup spot that Boone and the Yankees consider he would match greatest.
“No matter spot they want me, I’ve acquired to be prepared for,” Soto mentioned. “No matter spot within the lineup, no matter place they need me to play, I’ve acquired to be proper there for them. I’m open to do it anytime. Undoubtedly, we’re going to debate that once we get to Tampa in Spring Coaching.”
From a defensive standpoint, Choose is predicted to be the Opening Day starter in middle area, flanked by Verdugo and Soto. Trent Grisham, who tasks because the membership’s fourth outfielder, has received two Gold Glove Awards and will see frequent enjoying time as a late-inning alternative.
Verdugo is taken into account a greater defensive nook outfielder than Soto, so he’ll doubtless see most of his time in left area, particularly at Yankee Stadium. Nonetheless, with the Yankees opening the season towards the Astros at Minute Maid Park, Soto is perhaps the Opening Day left fielder, with Verdugo patrolling the extra spacious proper area there.
Choose was drafted as a middle fielder, calling the place “the very best view in the home.” He has performed 120 massive league video games in middle area, together with 112 begins.
Throughout his 2022 American League MVP marketing campaign, Choose made extra appearances in middle area (78) than proper area (73), although he performed solely 18 video games on the place through the 2023 season.
Boone indicated that Choose can be his main possibility in middle area, at the least till Jasson Domínguez returns from Tommy John surgical procedure someday in the summertime.
“I’m planning on enjoying Choose in middle loads,” Boone mentioned. “He’s getting ready for it now. The one factor is, after I play him in middle, I have a tendency to make use of the DH with him a bit of bit extra usually. If he’s enjoying most days in middle area, particularly with Trent Grisham on the roster now, who’s an elite defender and [adds] extra of that steadiness — he’ll clearly get some reps on the market. I can use the DH for Choose there generally.
“I’ve even talked to Choose about enjoying a bit of little bit of left area on a sure day after I need to get Grisham within the outfield, which he’s open to.”