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Breaking Down the Platoon Options for the 2017 Yankees Lineup

By Evan Halpine-Berger

Sep 8, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) hits a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) hits a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a two run RBI single in the sixth inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a two run RBI single in the sixth inning against Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Right Field

The team has made it clear that incumbent right field starter Aaron Judge will have to re-earn the job next spring after his miserable first month in the big leagues. The 24-year-old rookie hit .179/.263/.345 (61 OPS+) with four home runs and a 44.2 K% in 95 PA after his August 14th call up.

Like Bird, Judge might be best served by being eased into big league action in a platoon role, using a lefty outfielder like Mason Williams or a switch hitter like Aaron Hicks to shelter him against tough right-handed pitching.

Judge had a clear platoon split in Triple-A, with a .775 OPS against RHP and a .888 OPS against LHP. On the other hand, Williams had a .704 OPS against RHP and a .658 OPS against LHP with the Railriders.

Hicks is likely ahead of Williams on the outfield depth chart, but he makes less sense as a platoon partner for Judge because he has historically been stronger against lefties, although that wasn’t the case in 2016. If the Yankees decide to start Judge in the minor leagues because of a weak showing in the spring, a Williams/Hicks or Williams Refsnyder platoon is another option.

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