The New York Yankees own the first American League Wild Card spot with a solid 58-40 record after the first half of the 2024 season. They trail the Baltimore Orioles by one game for the division lead, a spot that they held for the majority of the first half before a sluggish final month.
The team has gone through some real up-and-downs, as evidenced by an 8-16 record leading into the All-Star break. In spite of some recent struggles, the team sits in a solid spot as they aim for their 28th World Series ring.
Jose Trevino, B+: The Yankees 31-year-old catcher has had a mediocre season with the bat. He is hitting .244 with eight home runs and an OPS of .713. The reason for this high grade is because of his defense. Trevino is tied for first in catcher framing runs with eight, according to baseballsavant.com. With a heavy emphasis on catcher defense, Trevino is having a nice year despite his average offensive stats.
Anthony Rizzo, C: The veteran first baseman has played in just 70 games due to a right arm injury. Before he got hurt, Rizzo was continuing the struggles that plagued him last year. He has a career low in both OBP and OPS, with marks at .289 and .630, respectively. With his defense diminishing as he gets older, Rizzo is leaving plenty to be desired when he is on the field.
Gleyber Torres, C: After a nice 2023 where he slugged 25 home runs, Torres has had a rough 2024. He re-signed with New York on a one-year contract and has hit just .231 with eight home runs. His OPS is at a career-low mark of .654 and his defense has been very poor with a mark of -5 DRS (defensive runs saved). In a contract year, neither Torres nor the Yankees can be happy with how his first half has gone.
Anthony Volpe, B: The second-year shortstop got off to a robust start, including a 21-game hit streak which came up one game short of tying Joe DiMaggio’s Yankee record. Things have not been going as well lately, with Volpe having not homered in 53 games and being removed from the lead-off spot. He has an OPS of .666 which matches the mark of his rookie year. He’s swiped 15 stolen bases and has been sound at shortstop with four DRS. Still, many Yankee fans likely expected more from the youngster, especially after his great start.
DJ LeMahieu, D: The 2020 AL MVP candidate has had a brutal season since returning from a right foot injury on May 28th. With a paltry .497 OPS and 0 home runs, the 2016 NL batting champion looks like a shell of his former self. The 36-year-old will look to drastically improve his numbers in the second half, or else his playing time may be cut.
Alex Verdugo, C+: New York acquired Verdugo in a rare trade with the rival Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Verdugo has struggled immensely with a .670 OPS and a meager .292 OBP. Normally a solid hitter, it is unclear why exactly he has struggled so much, especially as of late. The 28-year-old will look to put up better offensive numbers in the second half of the season.
Aaron Judge, A+: The 2022 AL MVP leads the Majors with 34 home runs and a monstrous 1.112 OPS. He has been about average defensively with zero DRS. However, he is arguably the best hitter in the sport and has at times completely carried the team. Judge has a great shot at his second MVP trophy, though he is still searching for big playoff success.
Juan Soto, A: The Yankees prized offseason acquisition has been terrific with a .985 OPS and 23 home runs. He has also been good defensively with three DRS. There is an abundance of uncertainty about whether Soto will resign with New York. For now at least, he will look to continue his success in pinstripes through the second half and eventually the playoffs. He has proven playoff success, having won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019.
Ben Rice, B+: The recently called-up first baseman has provided a nice spark to the Yankees. With a strong .809 OPS and .315 OBP through 24 games, the 25-year-old has provided some energy in the Yankee lineup. His role will likely only grow in the second half, so it should be fun to watch his development. He became the first Yankee rookie to ever homer three times in one game when he did it on July 6th against the Red Sox.
Oswaldo Cabrera, B: The Yankees’ other third baseman has at least been better than LeMahieu at the hot corner, with five home runs and a .238 batting average. With five DRS at third base, he has been an extremely sound fielder. Still, with the unproven Cabrera and the struggling LeMahieu, it would not be surprising if the Yankees looked to acquire third base help.
Austin Wells, B-: The backup catcher has an OPS of .687 to go along with six home runs in 61 games. With eight DRS at catcher, he has been very good in the field. While he may not light up the scoreboard with his numbers, he is a solid backup for New York.
Trent Grisham, B: The 27-year-old, who was acquired with Soto, has an OPS of .690 to go along with six home runs in 50 games. With two defensive runs saved in center field, Grisham has been a reliable option as the Yankees’ fourth outfielder. If Grisham can do just a little bit more with the bat, he may begin to see even more playing time in the second half.
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