When the Yankees first acquired Alex Verdugo from the Red Sox over the offseason, Aaron Boone assumed the lefty-swinger would provide some lineup flexibility.
He didn’t necessarily see the outfielder as his cleanup hitter, though.
“Not really,” Boone said. “I mean, I looked at Dugie, when we got him, as somebody that I could envision anywhere in the order. I could see him leading off. I could see him hitting right in the middle, third, fourth, fifth. Or as he hit a lot early in the season, sixth and seventh. He’s one of those guys that has a skill set that allows him to probably hit anywhere in the order.”
While not the original plan, Verdugo has mostly hit fourth since April 27, a stretch that was interrupted by a three-game stint on the paternity list.
While not a prototypical cleanup hitter, Verdugo has thrived in the role thus far, hitting .391/.400/.652 with two home runs and eight RBI over five games and 25 plate appearances as of Wednesday morning.
That small sample includes Tuesday’s performance, which saw Verdugo go 3-for-5 with four RBI in a 10-3 win over the Astros. Verdugo started his night with a three-run, first-inning homer off Justin Verlander.
After admiring the long ball and slowly trotting around the bases, Verdugo also picked up an RBI single and made a few nice plays in left field.
“That’s just a great game,” Aaron Boone said.
DRILLED BY DUGIE! 💥
Yankees take a 3-1 lead on Alex Verdugo’s 3-run shot!
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/aRu5PF6iD2 pic.twitter.com/EHrRwekK9n
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 7, 2024
The manager said that he initially used Verdugo in the four-hole because he wanted to give Anthony Rizzo a break from that spot in the order. But Boone has been a big fan of Verdugo’s bat-to-ball skills.
While Verdugo is not a power hitter — he’s never totaled more than 13 homers in a season — Boone figured the outfielder’s knack for contact would produce some runs considering Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, the two- and three-hitters, get on base at a high clip.
“There’s going to be really good opportunities, and I just think he’s a really good hitter,” Boone said of Verdugo.
For Verdugo, it’s an unusual spot to be in.
That’s not to say that he doesn’t like hitting fourth. But at 6-feet, he knows there are other Yankees who look the part of a cleanup hitter better than he does.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit humbling when you got Judge right there,” Verdugo said. “You’re looking down at me and then you got [Giancarlo] Stanton right behind me. I’m like the small guy in the group, but honestly, man, I love it. I really do. I feel like I add enough contact in there that I can help move over some guys, get the job done.”
Verdugo has been pulling the ball at a career-high 42.2% clip this season, but he insisted that he hasn’t changed his gameplan due to Yankee Stadium’s short right field dimensions or because he’s hitting fourth now.
He’s mindful that the porch is prime home run territory for lefties, but Verdugo said he’s always looking to stay up the middle.
“When I stay up the middle, if I get a little bit out in front on offspeed pitches, I pull them,” Verdugo explained. “And if I’m a little late on the heater, I go oppo. So it’s really just sticking with my approach and kind of keeping that. I think bigger results are happening, but it’s not by trying to create it. It’s literally just going up there, seeing the ball, working an at-bat and really trying to hit a line drive up the middle.”
That method has been working for Verdugo, who woke up with a .275/.362/.450 slash line on Wednesday. His 135 wRC+ ranked second on the Yankees, trailing only Soto’s 185 mark.
With that in mind, expect Verdugo to keep hitting fourth.
“I like the construct of it right now,” Boone said. “It brings a little athleticism in that spot.
“Right now, I love him right there behind Juan and Aaron.”
Verdugo feels the same way. Not just about his new role, but also about wearing pinstripes.
“I love it,” Verdugo said of being a Yankee. “I love it. I really do. It’s a great organization. Great team, great staff. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier here.”
The season is still young, but there’s no doubt that Verdugo, and impending free agent, has made a strong impression thus far. He ruffled some feathers in Los Angeles and Boston, but that has yet to happen in New York.
Boone and teammates have gone out of their way to say that the 27-year-old fits in great. That applies to more than just the cleanup spot.
“The guys love him in there,” Boone said. “I think he loves it. And we’re seeing the kind of player he is on both sides of the ball. He’s been a spark. He’s been excellent. He’s been clutch. And there’s no doubt he brings a little edge with him to the park every day.”
