Bench play could be a strength for the 2017 New York Yankees
Rob Refsnyder
I’ve always called Rob Refsnyder the “Ben Zobrist of the Yankees,” and his versatility in 2016 fit that assertion to a degree.[sc name=”Yankees Center Right” ]
In 58 games, Refsnyder slashed .250/.328/.309 and while he failed to hit a home run in 152 at-bats, he found time at five positions including first, right, second, left and third.
In 158.2 innings in the outfield, the Yankees’ fifth-round pick from the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft didn’t make a single error.
He’s shown that he’s stronger at second and right above any other position, but being on a “crash course” to learn other positions and being willing to adapt to it makes him a valuable option as the season progresses.
Of course, it’s highly unlikely that Joe Girardi carries more than four bench players on his 25-man roster to start the year, but Refsnyder makes the team more prepared in case an injury were to happen to any position.
The funny part about Refsnyder is that the prevalence of the super-utilityman has increased over the years. The possibility of having a guy like him joining Torreyes and Austin, giving the Yankees three utility guys, is quite unusual.
[sc name=”Yankees Center 2″ ]
In the end, these players mentioned won’t get a ton of attention as difference makers throughout next season. However, every team goes through injuries, fatigue, complete fall-offs or simply guys in need of days off.
The Yankees, thanks to the players mentioned in this slideshow, have the talent and versatility among their role players to succeed in case of any circumstance.
Do you agree that the bench is one of the team’s strong suits this year? Do you have any objections or criticisms? Let your voice be heard in the comments below.
[sc name=”Yankees Link Next” link=”https://elitesportsny.com/2017/01/13/early-preview-predictions-new-york-yankees-spring-training-battles/” text=”https://elitesportsny.com/2017/01/13/early-preview-predictions-new-york-yankees-spring-training-battles/” ][sc name=”Kouroupakis Footer” ]
Christian Kouroupakis covers the New York Yankees and is the Editorial Director for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page and follow him on Twitter. All statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Don’t hesitate to shoot him an email with any questions, criticisms, or concerns.
