It’s common to think of the Yankees as a playoff-tested team. After all, this is the eighth time in nine years that they’ve made the postseason under manager Aaron Boone. And a quick look at some of their regulars shows a lineup that varies between a little bit and a wealth of October experience.
Player No. of Career Playoff Games
Cody Bellinger 76
Aaron Judge 65
Paul Goldschmidt 29
Trent Grisham 26
Jazz Chisholm, Jr. 24
Austin Wells 21
Anthony Volpe 21
Amed Rosario 11
Ryan McMahon 10
Ben Rice 6
José Caballero 3
But a few names are missing from that list: Shortstop George Lombard Jr., outfielder Spencer Jones, first baseman Luis García Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. Those four have never played in the postseason, either with the Yankees or -- as is the case with García and Ramos -- with their previous teams.
Now, it’s possible that some of the injured veteran players -- Grisham and Chisholm, specifically -- could return to the lineup and send some of those new faces to the bench or off the playoff roster entirely. But it’s safe to say the Yankees are going to be counting on at least a few playoff newbies next month in their quest to win their first World Series since 2009.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his youngsters and playoff newcomers have another advantage over players who are coming of age in other markets.
“You play for the Yankees, you play in New York,” he said, “it has a way of getting you ready for the postseason.”
But a few names are missing from that list: Shortstop George Lombard Jr., outfielder Spencer Jones, first baseman Luis García Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. Those four have never played in the postseason, either with the Yankees or -- as is the case with García and Ramos -- with their previous teams.
Now, it’s possible that some of the injured veteran players -- Grisham and Chisholm, specifically -- could return to the lineup and send some of those new faces to the bench or off the playoff roster entirely. But it’s safe to say the Yankees are going to be counting on at least a few playoff newbies next month in their quest to win their first World Series since 2009.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his youngsters and playoff newcomers have another advantage over players who are coming of age in other markets.
“You play for the Yankees, you play in New York,” he said, “it has a way of getting you ready for the postseason.”
This has been something of a transitional year in the Major Leagues. Check out the first round of the 2023 Draft if you want proof. No fewer than 19 of the 37 first-round and sandwich picks have debuted, and many of them are already impact players with their teams.
“Players are getting to the big leagues at a very quick pace now and at a young age,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who has welcomed No. 3 pick Max Clark and AL Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle to Detroit this year. “I don't think they're as wowed by the big steps that they're taking.”
For the Yankees, that class includes Lombard, who has acclimated nicely since being called up in early August. And Jones was recently lauded by none other than Aaron Judge, who said the rookie outfielder has “really evolved every single time he got called up, gotten a little bit better and a little bit better.”
Of course, there will be hiccups along the way. On Wednesday, Jones went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts and committed an error when he dropped a fly ball in center field. And Lombard couldn’t come up with a Victor Caratini grounder in the 13th that was ruled a single as the Twins walked off the Yankees.