While the primary position battle between New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird and Luke Voit is in full effect, third-string/reserve option Ryan McBroom as quietly looked great so far during Grapefruit League games.
The first base position has gone from a major question mark to strength on the team, at least during spring training. The consensus could change over the course of the next few months, but as of now, all three options have had impressive offensive production.
The first baseman have been stellar for the New York Yankees:
In the Yankees’ win over the Tampa Bay Rays, Voit went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and a single. Bird on the other hand also went 2-2 over the course of two games, earning a double, infield single, and walk in his third at-bat. Two impressive stat lines from the two primary options.
McBroom, in the first game of spring training, smacked a solo homer in his only at-bat. While that was his only action at the plate, it was impactful and he certainly made a case for himself to emerge as the No. 3 option.
In case of injury, McBroom could offer value as a reserve piece. The 26-year-old is coming off a season with the Scranton Rail Riders, batting .302 with 15 homers and 60 RBIs. There’s no question that he’s a solid hitter and deserving of a chance at the professional level after four years in the minor league system.
What makes Ryan McBroom a solid option?
Not only does the young player feature in the outfield, but he has the diversity to also play in the outfield. In 2018, he played 81 games in the outfield and 65 games at first (2 errors). His versatility and ability to adapt to multiple positions makes his stock even more valuable. If the Yankees get into injury trouble later on in the season, I would expect McBroom to earn some impactful reps.