Injuries can often be a blessing in disguise, offering young players the opportunity to prove their value. However, when the injured stars are ready to return, teams face tough decisions about how to reconfigure their lineup. This is the situation the New York Yankees now find themselves in.
Former All-Stars Nearing Return to Yankees Lineup
The Yankees are about to face a challenging dilemma as catcher Jose Trevino and first baseman Anthony Rizzo are close to making their comebacks. Manager Aaron Boone will soon have to decide how to reintegrate these former All-Stars into the lineup once everyone is healthy.
The Emergence of Wells
MLB Catchers with 110 wRC+ or higher, +10 BB%, +5 Fielding Run Value, and +2.0 fWAR (Min. 500 Innings) :
Austin Wells (113 wRC+, 12.3 BB%, 6 FRV, 2.4 fWAR)
That's it. pic.twitter.com/JWbk5ekyXV
— Aiden Béchamps (@ABechamps) August 1, 2024
Reintroducing an injured player becomes even more complex when their replacement has been performing exceptionally well. This is the case for both Rizzo and Trevino.
Jose Trevino, who was sidelined on July 13 with a left quad strain, had been splitting catching duties evenly with Austin Wells. Since taking over as the primary catcher, Wells has made the most of his opportunity, hitting .345 with a .937 OPS and 9 RBIs over his last 15 games. This marks a significant improvement from earlier in the season when the 25-year-old struggled at the plate.
Wells has also shown his defensive prowess, ranking in the 95th percentile for framing and throwing out 21% of base stealers, according to Baseball Savant. While Trevino earned a Gold Glove in 2022, his defensive performance has declined this year, along with his hitting.
When asked about the situation, Aaron Boone acknowledged that Wells has likely secured the starting catcher role: “Where [Wells] has gone over the last month, six weeks will probably garner a lot of playing time. That said, I expect Trevy in there quite a bit, too….Trevy will play some, but Austin has definitely earned more and more reps.” As a result, Trevino may see limited playing time upon his return.
Rice or Rizzo?
What a stop by Ben Rice! 🍚#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/rVMroB7xug
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 3, 2024
When Anthony Rizzo was sidelined in mid-June, his replacement, Ben Rice, faced low expectations. In 70 games this season, Rizzo has struggled, hitting just .223 with a .630 OPS and eight home runs. However, Rice has exceeded expectations, nearly matching Rizzo’s home run total with seven homers in just 38 games. His .719 OPS is also higher than several other Yankees starters. Though Rice is hitting only .197, he has shown impressive plate discipline, with a .301 OBP and a 19/37 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Defensively, Rice has been solid, especially considering his recent transition from catcher to first base. Although DJ LeMahieu has started over Rice recently, Rice’s left-handed bat has added valuable depth to the Yankees’ lineup.
When Rizzo returns, he will likely get some playing time. However, Rice’s contributions may lead to a rotation at first base, involving Rizzo, Rice, and even LeMahieu, to maximize the team’s offensive potential.
