The disabled list has captured various New York Yankees players in its clutches this year but there are still some positive things that have emerged.
Just refer to this New York Yankees team as the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Railriders because essentially, that’s exactly what they are.
As the Yankees lineup dwindles down to practically nothing, the big name starters are finding themselves on the sidelines with first-class tickets to ride the pine.
We’ve already been given the opportunity to see what happens when the Yankees are at full-strength, as shown at the beginning of the season.
However, with the list piling up every day, the Yankees are missing a brigade of starting players and both starting and relief pitching. And that is beyond frustrating to watch.
But this is what the Yankees are built for. They have reliable and eager prospects in the farm system, who are ready to board the next flight to don those pinstripes.
So let’s take a look at some positives that come along with the Yankees recent string of injuries.
1. Fresh Energy On The Bench
With eager prospects making their way into the dugout, you can bet they will bring both fresh faces and fresh attitudes to the game.
Recently, the Yankees have looked strung out and exhausted. Maybe it’s due to the fact that they had only two off days during the entire month of June.
It’s that point in the season where the energy needs a boost. That’s where these prospects like Miguel Andujar, Tyler Wade and Dustin Fowler come into play.
They’re excited, they’re eager and they’re ready to make a difference to help increase their stock in the farm system. Plus, they bring a newfound excitement to the sport that has dissipated as of recently in the Bronx.
Fresh faces? Check. Along with those faces comes a youthful energy that can help propel the Yankees over this hump.
2. Showing Off Potential Trade Chips
In a perfect world, the New York Yankees would win the World Series while still keeping their highly-touted prospects.
In this world, however, the likelihood that they’ll actually win without buying or selling is pretty slim. But this gives the Yankees a chance to weed through their prospects on the major league level and see who fits in and who doesn’t.
Plus, other teams will get to see these young players in action, giving them an idea of who they might target in the trade market. So far, all of the prospects have impressed in their own way in the Bronx and have created more trade chips that might be more desirable for the Yankees to depart with for the right price.
Do the Yankees want to keep them all? Absolutely, especially with the way they have begun to step up in the majors. However, injuries allow them to test their prospects at the major league level and that can help teams realize there are more young studs besides Gleyber Torres.
3. Forcing Younger Players Into Leadership Roles
If you witnessed the past few games, the field is littered with rookies. The remaining experienced players are Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Chase Headley and Didi Gregorius.
While Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez have also taken on the major league level before, they are not seen as leaders. With a young crop of stars coming up, they must step up into a leadership role.
They are no longer the rookies of the team. They have younger players to mentor, players in the same position they were last season.
And that will be a great thing for the Yankees this year. It will make Judge and Sanchez realize that it’s not just about playing the game now; it is about helping these other teammates acclimate to the spotlight.
Sanchez took some criticism on Wednesday night in regards to his defense and hustle on the field. Hopefully, as he sees these other rookies playing with heart and hustle, he’ll realize this is the perfect opportunity for him to mature a little more.
So, there you have it. The injury bug has wreaked havoc on the Yankees but there is always something positive that can come out of it.
I can’t wait until the New York Yankees team becomes whole again. But for right now, we have a whole lot to look forward to because of these injuries.