Yankees rookie Miguel Andujar: The doubles machine

Miguel Andujar began his Rookie of the Year caliber season in the minors for the Yankees, but on Thursday he was batting third in the Bronx. It seems Aaron Boone has caught wind of Andujar’s impressive doubles-mashing season.

While journalists were drooling over the prospect of Gleyber Torres everytime he hit a home run during May, fellow Yankees rookie Miguel Andujar kept hitting doubles. And while journalists write about Gleyber Torres’ recent slump, Miguel Andujar keeps hitting doubles.

When rumors began to spread that Manny Machado was destined to become a New York Yankee at the trade deadline, Miguel Andujar’s job was in jeopardy. But the 23-year-old rookie kept doing what he was best at, getting extra-base hits.

Even after the ridicule, Andujar faced following his crucial, bottom of the ninth, two-out throwing error that tied the game against the Boston Red Sox, Andujar kept on rounding into second base.

Sure, fans haven’t forgotten the short throw that Greg Bird should have scooped, and some fans are refusing to let go of the past. But still, that won’t stop Andujar.

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He entered Thursday’s game with a total of 34 doubles on the season. The Yankees rookie record is owned by Joe DiMaggio who hit 44 doubles in 1936.

The American League record for most doubles hit by a rookie in a season was set by Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn who hit 47 in 1975. The bottom line is, Miguel Andujar, can hit, and if he keeps this up, he’s heading for the record books.

No, he is not a Gold Glove-caliber player like Manny Machado. No, he doesn’t have the power of Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, or Aaron Judge. And no, he was not the No. 1 prospect that analysts labeled 21-year-old Gleyber Torres.

But the truth is, hitting .296 with 19 home runs and 34 doubles in 415 at-bats like Andujar is not easy for a rookie. And his consistency earned him the number three spot in Thursday’s batting order.

Miguel Andujar has arguably become Mr. Reliable at the dish. Luckily for us fans, his overall abilities as a player are expected to grow.