With all the injuries that have plagued the Manhattan Mules, the New York Yankees starting lineup is expected to look different for the start of the 2025 season next week, as manager Aaron Boone told the media that catcher Austin Wells will likely be the team’s leadoff hitter.
“I think you can interpret it a little bit,” Boone said on March 16. “I like it there. It may continue to evolve. I don’t know if we’ve seen many left-handed starters. I might change it if we saw a left-handed starter. But I’ve really liked him in that position. I think it shapes up well for that.”
Boone willing to give Goldschmidt opportunities
Completing the middle part of the batting order will likely be a combination of Aaron Judge, offseason acquisition Cody Bellinger and fellow newcomer Paul Goldschmidt.
Goldschmidt, 37, has typically batted in the middle of the order throughout his 14-year MLB career between Arizona and St. Louis. In his first year in pinstripes, it looks like Boone is willing to shake things up.
According to YES Network’s Jack Curry, the Yankees manager is open to giving Goldschmidt opportunities as a leadoff hitter against left-handed pitchers.
“From Boone… While Wells is expected to bat first against right-handed pitchers, Goldschmidt could get some reps against left-handed pitchers. He has never been a leadoff hitter in the majors, but he has a .381 career on-base percentage,” Curry wrote on X.
He added that “Goldschmidt has not been the leadoff hitter in any preseason game, but he is expected to bat first against the Phillies tomorrow” against left-hander Jesus Luzardo.
Goldschmidt no longer has the speed he once had (32 stolen bases in 2016), but he has stolen at least 11 bases in three of the last four seasons. However, it is Goldschmidt’s on-base percentage (.381) that makes him more attractive and suitable for the position.
It is worth noting, however, that the former MVP and seven-time All-Star posted the worst numbers of his career last season, with a .245/.302/.716 batting average.
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