Yankees: Does Miguel Andujar have AL Rookie of the Year locked up?

Yankees rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar’s solid play in the spring didn’t garner him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he’s aced his first big league impression.

When injuries decimated the Yankees lineup early in the season, manager Aaron Boone called Miguel Andujar’s number, and the young slugger quickly ran with the opportunity. Andujar played so well that he drastically changed the team’s plans for the infield.

Brandon Drury was supposed to be a starter; when the versatile infielder struggled with injuries and Andujar shined in his stead, Brian Cashman suddenly had a surplus of capable third basemen.

Drury would eventually be shipped to Toronto as part of the J.A. Happ trade, which placed the starting spot at third base in the rookie’s capable hands.

Andujar, or “Papá,” as his Players’ Weekend jersey reads, has far and away exceeded the expectations, and even the wildest hopes, of fans. All he’s done is etch his name in the history books. He became the third Yankee ever (along with Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle) to hit an extra-base hit in seven straight games under the age of 24.

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“Papá” is an extra-base hit machine, and he’s on pace to break the American League record for doubles. It seems strange to think that, throughout July, many trade rumors suggested that the Yankees would potentially swap Andujar for Manny Machado in a trade with the Orioles. As Yanks Go Yard’s Joseph Randazzo pointed out, Andujar has outhit Machado since the All-Star break.

For most of May and June, it seemed that fellow (and literal) Baby Bomber, Gleyber Torres was becoming a shoe-in for the AL Rookie of the Year Award. The prize acquisition of the Aroldis Chapman trade burst onto the scene louder than Andujar and even made the All-Star Game. But Torres has cooled off after missing a chunk of time with an injury. Meanwhile, Andujar just keeps hitting.

The prize acquisition of the Aroldis Chapman trade burst onto the scene louder than Andujar and even made his first All-Star team. But Torres has cooled off after missing a chunk of time with an injury. Meanwhile, Andujar just keeps hitting.

Outside the Yanks, the stiffest competition for the Rookie of the Year award is Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. The former two-way star also missed time with an injury, but he’s batting .333 in August, according to ESPN. In the end, it may be Andujar’s durability that tips the scales in his favor.

In the end, it may be Andujar’s durability that tips the scales in his favor.

One thing is for sure: Andujar has been a bonafide star throughout his rookie year, and he should be a crucial part of the Yankees for the foreseeable future.