Rookie sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez hit a combined 4-for-7 with one home run, one walk, and two RBI in the No. 4 and 5 spots against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon, leaving several fans wondering if the bright young stars will appear in the middle of the batting order on a regular basis.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn’t ready to jump to conclusions.
“I’m not sure,” Girardi told Joe Giglio of NJ Advance Media. “Obviously your hope is that—over time—they can become middle-of-the-order guys, very consistent middle of the order, very productive middle-of-the-order guys. But I’m not going to put that kind of pressure on them.”
So far, there hasn’t been any hint of pressure. Since receiving the big league promotion on August 3, Sanchez has hit .360 in 12 games, including five home runs and 11 RBI in 50 at-bats. Judge, who also made headlines with his Bronx debut on Saturday, swung for Monument Park in his first professional at-bat, and has already collected a .389 average with three multi-hit games.
But to no one’s surprise, a rookie is solely itching to play, regardless of what the lineup card reads, and Judge isn’t looking to change his approach.
“Just keep it simple,” Judge said to Giglio. “Keep the same thing I’ve been doing the last couple days. Just try to get on base for the guys behind me and if there’s guys on base, try to drive them in. I’m happy wherever my name is in the lineup.”
Despite a vague answer from Girardi, the Yankees do envision both Judge and Sanchez in the heart of the order eventually, whether it begins as early as this September or as late as next April. But difficult conversations between veterans Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, and Chase Headley will first have to take place, as the recent youth movement has rapidly replaced aging players from their regular roles. Even if a change in the lineup isn’t favored by the older occupants, the veteran trio has hit a combined .216 out of the three-hole, .237 at cleanup, and .225 in the fifth slot, making it difficult to keep the status quo in the midst of a playoff push.
With all things considered, New York hasn’t received enough production from its once-reliable bats all season, which should make the case for Judge and Sanchez hitting higher in the order only stronger during the Yankees’ home stretch.
