Yes, his overall numbers still look bad. And yes, his exit velocity numbers are a bit lacking, at least when compared to his elite 2018 season. But Miguel Andujar, despite those two situations, is on the verge of breaking out of his season-long funk. And the New York Yankees are eager to see him succeed at the plate despite the fact that they are about to get Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton back.
Miguel Andujar, who starred for the Yankees in 2018 with a .297/.328/.527, 27 home runs and 76 total extra base hits, has struggled since suffering a torn labrum in 2019 and getting surgery. The 2020 season has been the first one after the surgical intervention, and his average exit velocity (85.9 mph, compared to 89.2 mph in 2018) could suggest that he is still gaining his strength back.
He started the season struggling at the plate, which coupled to his abysmal fielding in third base and left field, didn’t give the New York Yankees a reason to play him. But due to the litany of injuries on the roster, he has been given another shot to star, and it seems he is taking advantage of it.
The Yankees are finally seeing some production
His .242 /.277/.355 overall line is rather disappointing, but let’s dig deeper. From the start of the season until August 28, Andujar slashed .129/.156/.129 with only four hits, no home runs, a 3.1 BB% and a 18.8 K%. His average exit velocity was 86.6 mph.
Since the calendar flipped to September, the prized Yankees’ young player has hit .355/.394/.581 with eleven hits (two doubles, one triple and a homer), 6.1 BB% and 9.1 K%. And while his average exit velocity is still low in that timeframe (85.2 mph), Statcast metrics have been as a little unlucky this year (.270 wOBA, .295 xwOBA.) Those are still bad, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.
Let’s see what the Yankees do with Andujar’s playing time once they get their two sluggers back, especially Stanton, since he will likely play a lot of DH. But right now, the team is actually getting some production from the 2018 Rookie of the Year runner-up.