CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Miguel Andujar #41 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field on March 07, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Yankees have done a great job of staying afloat without their injured stars, but Aaron Boone should get Miguel Andujar back this weekend.
Help is on the way for manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees lineup this weekend. Barring a last-minute setback, Miguel Andujar should be cleared to play again for the big league club during this weekend’s series against the Twins.
The team hasn’t released a final injury update on their talented third baseman, but the fact that he was spotted on a flight from Tampa to Newark on Friday morning makes it clear his return is imminent. His return comes at a good time for a New York team that is looking to break a two-game losing streak heading into their series versus Minnesota.
Interestingly, Andujar’s return to the lineup will actually cost one of the team’s most productive hitters some playing time in the near-term. The franchise expected Gio Urshela to play quality defense when he was brought up to replace Andujar, but his offensive production has been a very pleasant surprise. He doesn’t hit for a ton of power but his .339 batting average in 22 games is second only to Cameron Maybin on the Yankees’ roster.
At the very least, Urshela’s offensive production to date will make it easier for Boone to gradually implement Andujar back into the lineup. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the second-year professional gets a few starts at the designated hitter position before he plays another game at third base. Even if Andujar is fully healthy, Urshela is definitely the superior fielder.
No matter how Boone chooses to get Andujar’s bat into the lineup it’s going to do a lot to boost his entire batting order. In the absence of other injured sluggers like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, too much pressure has fallen onto Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres to carry the Yankees offense. The return of Andujar in the middle of the order will take a lot of pressure off of those two players in particular.
Of course, the Yankees hope that Andujar’s arrival in the Bronx is the first of several high-profile returns that should occur in the next few weeks. Help my finally be on the way for New York.