WASHINGTON — As brutal because the final two months have been for Alex Verdugo, Monday supplied a reminder of the participant the Yankees consider he could be — and want him to be down the stretch if he’s going to maintain beginning in left area.
The spotlight was making a terrific catch on the warning monitor earlier than sacrificing his physique and slamming into the wall, which he got here out of properly sufficient to be again within the lineup on Tuesday.
Verdugo added three hits within the collection opener in opposition to the Nationals, all of them in opposition to left-handers and two of them going the alternative method along with his bat-to-ball abilities on show.
It marked Verdugo’s second straight multi-hit effort, which got here on the heels of going deep on Saturday for the primary time since July 6.
Now the problem is parlaying that momentum into actually discovering his groove over the ultimate month of the season going into October.
“He could be such an affect participant for us,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned Tuesday earlier than a 4-2 loss to the Nationals. “I don’t care who you might be — rookie, veteran — you undergo it and also you undergo some struggles, you undergo a troublesome stretch, it wears [on you]. The grind is actual. So a pair months there the place he’s grinded via it.
“To get some traction, particularly all of the work you set into it, pour in behind the scenes attempting to unlock your self and get it rolling to get some outcomes, it’s good for the soul.”
The timing of Verdugo’s potential turnaround is vital.
Rosters are set to broaden on Sunday, and followers have been clamoring for Jasson Dominguez to be referred to as up from Triple-A to take over in left area.
However GM Brian Cashman mentioned not too long ago that there was no “lane” for Dominguez to play with the present outfield wholesome — echoing what the crew has mentioned because the prime prospect bought wholesome from Tommy John surgical procedure and an indirect pressure — and there have been no indications that the Yankees would surrender on Verdugo at hand Dominguez an opportunity at beginning on a regular basis over the past month of the season.
For that to stay the case, Verdugo wants to provide.
After going 1-for-4 Tuesday — with a line drive tracked down within the hole for an out and a easily turned double play by the Nationals that killed a seventh-inning rally — he was 7-for-15 with a house run and a stroll over his final 4 video games.
However in 54 video games earlier than that from June 15 to Aug. 23, Verdugo hit simply .178 with a .500 OPS, one residence run and 41 strikeouts.
His OPS throughout that stretch was the worst amongst 161 certified hitters whereas his batting common was the second-worst (trailing solely Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes).
“I’m positively feeling higher,” Verdugo mentioned. “Positively placing higher swings on and staying inside myself a little bit bit extra. It’s simply, maintain it going and take a look at to not get too forward of myself and search for harm or something like that. Simply maintain taking what the pitchers are giving me.”
Gleyber Torres has supplanted Verdugo because the common leadoff hitter and doesn’t appear like he’ll be giving it up anytime quickly.
However Verdugo may nonetheless play an vital function in lengthening the lineup on the backside, as he did on Monday to assist flip it over persistently.
Inside the clubhouse, Verdugo has massive supporters in Aaron Choose and Boone, who had each been attempting to get him on the crew earlier than he was acquired from the Crimson Sox final offseason.
Choose liked how he was a gamer, which confirmed up on Monday night time by operating into the wall, and the way he got here up massive in clutch spots, which the Yankees have to see extra of because the video games get extra vital down the stretch.
“A part of it [is] he’s lastly discovering some holes,” Boone mentioned. “I really feel like Dugie’s been an actual tough-luck man, actually all yr. … I really feel like he’s having good, aggressive at-bats, which is the most important factor. However actually good to see him get outcomes as a result of we all know what hitter he could be.”
