Miguel Andujar is heating up in winter league ball: Does he have a place with the Yankees?

New York Yankees, Miguel Andujar
Mar 5, 2020; Lakeland, Florida, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Miguel Andujar (41) hits a two RBI double during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Lots of New York Yankees‘ players are currently taking some valuable at-bats and innings in winter leagues. Deivi Garcia, Gary Sanchez, Luis Medina, Luis Gil, and Domingo German are some of them. The much-maligned Miguel Andujar also belongs in the group, and for him, leaving a big impression is critical if he wants to be part of the team’s future.

After a rather sluggish start with Toros Del Este in the Dominican league (LIDOM) Andujar’s bat is heating up.

The Yankees’ infielder/outfielder is 7-for-13 with a walk, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly in four games since returning to the field on Tuesday. His batting average is now up to .360 in 29 plate appearances this winter with La Romana’s team.

Andujar, who had labrum surgery in 2019 and returned on time to play the 2020 season with the Yankees, hit a paltry .242/.277/.355 with a horrid 85.9 mph average exit velocity. It’s possible that lingering effects of the injury affected his play, but he didn’t perform well and now his future with the Bombers is in question.

What will the Yankees do with him?

Since he is a lousy defensive third baseman and isn’t particularly good in the outfield and first base either, he needs to rake in order to have a place in the Yankees’ lineup. All corners are crowded and Giancarlo Stanton looks set to be the team’s primary designated hitter.

What Andujar does in winter ball and spring training will likely have a lot of influence in what the Yankees decided to do with him. For now, he looks like he has no place in the club’s future plans, but he’ll try to change that with his offensive performance. So far, so good in the Dominican Republic for the 25-year-old.

Another under-the-radar Yankees’ player performing well in his last few at-bats is Estevan Florial, who has eight hits (a home run and a triple among those) and a walk in his last 16 plate appearances. He’s now batting .286/.380/.429 for Leones del Escogido.