Alex Verdugo is one of the most divisive players on the New York Yankees, as he is not just coming off his worst season at the plate since 2018, but he also has a strong attitude. Many people dislike him, notably Bronx fans who have despised his pranks with the Boston Red Sox over the last four seasons. From a public spat with manager Alex Cora to an outspoken attitude that has gotten him into trouble at times, he’ll have to hush the naysayers, who will be watching with considerably more attention than in previous years.
Could the Yankees find a way to unlock the 27-year-old’s potential in 2024, given his contact-first approach and prodigious power that he needs to tap into?
A shift toward a more aggressive approach at the plate.
Making smart selections at the plate is vital, but we sometimes overvalue hitters’ patience and selectiveness, resulting in missed run-scoring opportunities. On the one hand, being overly aggressive can result in at-bats that end much sooner than they should, but it can also result in smashing a pitch that a pitcher leaves a little too high over the heart of the plate. Everyone understands that aggression can have negative effects for a batter, but the negative consequences of being overly selective are rarely emphasized.
Sure, Alex Verdugo has one of baseball’s lowest Chase Rates, but does that imply he makes sound swing selections, or is he simply a selective hitter? As we learn more about hitting, we must distinguish between the implications of aggression and patience, as neither determines whether a batter is excellent or terrible. When it comes to Verdugo, the Yankees need to figure out how to get him to be more aggressive, as his swing decisions have gone from solid to downright dreadful in recent seasons.
If he can swing at more hittable pitches, the Yankees may see him use his game power more, and Yankee Stadium is an ideal setting for that. Since 2021, the Bronx has had the second-highest wOBA on pulled flyballs from left-handed batters, and Statcast predicts that Alex Verdugo would have eight more home runs over the last two seasons if he had played all of his games there. The idea is not to make Verdugo an aggressive hitter; rather, it is to make him less selective and give up certain chases in exchange for increased in-zone aggression.
Earlier swing decisions result in more pulled contact, and he mentioned the possibility of getting out in front of the ball more in his first press conference after being traded to the Yankees. He lacks impressive power capabilities, but he does have a great hit tool and feel for contact, which has allowed him to hit for a high average with the Boston Red Sox. The arrival of new hitting coach James Rowson, who I believe is the appropriate instructor for a personality like Alex Verdugo, might be a positive factor for him.
The Yankees might be the best landing spot for Alex Verdugo.
An interesting detail from Alex Verdugo’s opening news conference was his implicit jab at former manager Alex Cora, which does not bode well for the concept that he has grown, but it did expose the schism between the two.
“I am very excited to work with Aaron. I’ve seen how he’s supported his guys…That’s something I want to see from my head coach, man. I want to see some fire and battle for the guys. I believe that instead of criticizing others, we should support them.
We’ll see how Alex Verdugo’s relationship with Aaron Boone develops over the season, but the connection I’m most interested in is his one with James Rowson. Some remarks from Minnesota Twins players who played while he was their hitting coach imply that he’s one of baseball’s most positive and encouraging personalities, which could be exactly what Verdugo needs to get his mind right.
Yes, Verdugo’s confidence and abrasive demeanor make him a fascinating player to watch when he’s on his game, but they’ve also caused him to unravel both on and off the field when things don’t go as planned. His problems worsen, which James Rowson might possibly help him avoid by keeping a constructive voice in his ear. Not everyone is conditioned for tough love, and Byron Buxton provided a fantastic comment regarding positive affirmations and how they inspire athletes.
“He consistently praised me as the best player…”Every day, I had to mentally prepare myself, as if to say, “What? I’m the top player. When my attitude moved to [that], everything else became irrelevant.
Byron Buxton, a first-round choice, didn’t discover his bat until his age-25 season, after he posted an awful 77 wRC+ and slugged just.387 in his first 306 games. While Verdugo is considerably further along in his career, the move to a mindset that allows one to believe they are capable of far more may be exactly what he requires. This is not to predict that Alex Verdugo will have a 171 wRC+ at any point in his career or smash 28 home runs in 92 games, but he may find more comfort in being aggressive and striving to be one of the best outfielders in the league.
The Yankees have an advantage over Boston in that he will be flanked by two of the finest hitters in the world, eliminating the need for him to be a lineup anchor or the face of a deal that has tarnished a storied franchise’s image. Pressure from being the centerpiece of the Mookie Betts deal most definitely influenced his mentality and play; it’s a city and environment that can’t really welcome him because of what they gave up to get him and what that trade has meant for the Red Sox.
Is this a woe-is-me moment for Alex Verdugo? Absolutely not; his off-field concerns are entirely his own, and Alex Cora and the Boston Red Sox have no control over his behavior. Affirmations are vital, but so is the capacity to hold yourself accountable and do the right thing for yourself and your team. New York is unforgiving, and if he plans to stay here without the ability to hold himself accountable, he’ll have another thing coming to him.
This is a career-defining season for Alex Verdugo, as he will approach free agency next season, hoping to sign a multi-year contract with another team. If it doesn’t work with the Yankees, teams and the media will turn even more against him, and they would be very justified in doing so. New York is a difficult location to play, but as Alex Verdugo pointed out, the Yankees have a highly supportive culture established by Aaron Boone, so if it doesn’t work here, I doubt it will work elsewhere.
