The New York Yankees boast enviable outfield depth

New York Yankees, Aaron Hicks
Sep 11, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (31) in the third inning against Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees received some great news on Tuesday: Aaron Hicks, the team’s starting center fielder, is ramping up his training at home and can be seen performing several exercises in an Instagram post.

The slick-fielding switch hitter can be seen taking batting practice, sprinting on a treadmill, and throwing around a large medicine ball at his Florida home.

Hicks, currently 30 years old, is one of the Yankees’ best and most important players when healthy. He remains a two-way contributor thanks to his fielding prowess in center field and his powerful bat from both sides of the plate. Having him back when (or should we say if?) the season restarts is crucial for the Bombers.

The Yankees have an outfield of stars

However, the New York Yankees can brag about having one of the best and deepest outfield corps in the majors.
And, to the surprise of some, the Yankees’ outfield is not only excellent with the bat, but it is also filled with more than capable defenders. Aaron Judge has a case for being the best right fielder in the game (with a 7.6 defensive rating in Fangraphs and a league-leading 20 DRS), while Hicks, Brett Gardner and Mike Tauchman are also usual contributors with the glove and with the wood.

And if that isn’t enough, the Yankees also have Giancarlo Stanton’s underrated glove capable of playing in left field. He is, however, best known for his bat, and rightfully so. The presence of Clint Frazier and the possibility of Miguel Andujar playing some reps in left field really complicates matters when it comes to finding playing time for everyone involved, but manager Aaron Boone knows that, with that kind of depth, his club can cope with an injury or two.

As you can see, the Yankees could field two outfields capable of starting at any level. That speaks volumes about the organization’s player development and scouting staff. Let’s just hope there is a season to play.