Miguel Andujar says that he is ready to go for the New York Yankees. They will now need to make a decision at the hot corner.
The New York Yankees were going to be forced into making a decision at third base at some point during the 2020 season. Miguel Andujar had been considered the future at the hot corner, finishing second in the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year ballot. However, shoulder woes sidelined him for all but 12 games last season, leaving his place in question.
Andujar’s clouded future was due to the unexpected emergence of another option at third. Gio Urshela, a journeyman minor leaguer who was expected to be nothing more than a depth piece, came out of nowhere to post an All Star caliber season.
Eventually, the Yankees were going to be forced into making a decision at the hot corner. However, Andujar’s lingering shoulder issues allowed New York to put that decision off. Except, the shutdown due to the pandemic occurred, allowing Andujar time to heal up.
That time is now. Andujar, in an e-mail to George A. King III of the New York Post, stated that he is happy with where he is physically and is ready to return to the diamond. The torn labrum that limited Andujar to his 12 ineffective games last season has healed, giving him hope that he can return to form.
Should that happen, the Yankees will have a difficult decision to make. Andujar posted an excellent .297/.328/.527 batting line, hitting 47 doubles and 27 homers. However, in his 49 plate appearances last season, Andujar had six singles and drove in just one run, striking out 11 times.
Urshela, meanwhile, had a career year in 2019. He produced a .314/.355/.534 batting line, hitting 34 doubles and 21 homers. He also provided comparatively adequate defense at third, costing the Yankees six runs, as opposed to Andujar costing the Yankees 29 runs defensively in 2018.
In theory, there is room for both Andujar and Urshela on the roster. While Andujar has strictly played at third in the majors, Urshela has been more of a utility player. Before entrenching himself at the hot corner last season, he had spent time around the infield, seeing action at each position.
But given Andujar’s defensive woes, it is possible that he moves from the position instead. The Yankees had already begun to consider the idea in spring training, with Andujar seeing action at first and in the corner outfield spots. However, Andujar again struggled with the glove.
The New York Yankees have a decision to make at third base when the 2020 season is ready to get underway. In the battle between Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela, it may come down to which player gets hot at the right time.