Think anticipated to bat Third, play CF in 2024

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With fewer than three weeks final sooner than pitchers and catchers file to Tampa, Fla., the Yankees are shedding hints as to what the team’s new-stare lineup will mean for Aaron Think.

Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone has said that he envisions Think occupying the No. 3 space in the lineup, batting at the lend a hand of Juan Soto, whereas taking part in the majority of his innings in center discipline.

“I judge it the total time,” Boone said for the period of an appearance on the Unhappy Territory podcast. “Honest now, you’ll potentially [see] Juan in the two-gap and Think third. … I judge you inaugurate with the muse that confidently Think and Soto are hitting lend a hand to lend a quit 150 instances this year.”

Boone said that the membership’s leadoff hitter is but to be obvious, though he listed DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo as imaginable alternate choices.

However the skipper looks to be locked in on the alternatives that Think may perhaps perhaps perchance gaze by batting at the lend a hand of Soto, who led the Majors with 132 walks final season for the Padres. Soto’s .410 on-contaminated share ranked third in the Majors, at the lend a hand of ultimate Ronald Acuña Jr. (.416) and Shohei Ohtani (.412).

“In the starting up, you inaugurate with the pillars,” Boone said. “I gaze Aaron and Soto hitting lend a hand to lend a hand; whether one is [No.] 2 and one is [No. 3]I’m no longer rather certain but. It can perhaps perchance rely on who in truth is hitting in that leadoff space; who is hitting in the four-gap and former.

“I judge one in all the interesting things relating to the aptitude of our lineup this year is the balance we’re going to bear with upwards of four or 5 lefties in the lineup, so as to be ready to in truth alternate things.”

Soto lately said that he is commence to whatever lineup space that Boone and the Yankees factor in he would match handiest.

“No matter space they need me, I’ve received to be ready for,” Soto said. “No matter space in the lineup, whatever space they wish me to play, I’ve received to be appropriate there for them. I’m commence to attain it anytime. With out a doubt, we’re going to debate that after we fetch to Tampa in Spring Coaching.”

From a defensive standpoint, Think is anticipated to be the Opening Day starter in center discipline, flanked by Verdugo and Soto. Trent Grisham, who tasks because the membership’s fourth outfielder, has received two Gold Glove Awards and must always gaze frequent taking part in time as a leisurely-inning replace.

Verdugo is truly apt a bigger defensive nook outfielder than Soto, so he’ll likely gaze most of his time in left discipline, particularly at Yankee Stadium. On the opposite hand, with the Yankees opening the season in opposition to the Astros at Minute Maid Park, Soto can also very well be the Opening Day left fielder, with Verdugo patrolling the extra spacious appropriate discipline there.

Think turned into drafted as a center fielder, calling the gap “the final word observe in the home.” He has played 120 colossal league video games in center discipline, along with 112 begins.

For the period of his 2022 American League MVP campaign, Think made extra appearances in center discipline (78) than appropriate discipline (73), though he played ultimate 18 video games at the gap for the period of the 2023 season.

Boone indicated that Think will likely be his fundamental option in center discipline, a minimum of until Jasson Domínguez returns from Tommy John surgical plan in the end in the summer.

“I’m planning on taking part in Think in center a lot,” Boone said. “He’s making ready for it now. The one thing is, after I play him in center, I tend to use the DH with him a minute bit bit extra customarily. If he’s taking part in most days in center discipline, particularly with Trent Grisham on the roster now, who’s an elite defender and [adds] extra of that balance — he’ll obviously fetch some reps available in the market. I’m in a position to use the DH for Think there steadily.

“I’ve even talked to Specialise in taking part in a minute bit little bit of left discipline on a particular day after I must fetch Grisham in the outfield, which he’s commence to.”