Yankees: Miguel Andujar is the present and future

He’s a horrible defender — so many errors, get him outta there! This is all Yankees fans were saying last season during Miguel Andujar’s rookie campaign. However, Andujar is and should be the future third baseman for the Yankees.

Miguel Andujar can flat out just hit. He is such a raw talent when it comes to his at-bats. Sure, he’s free swinging but he also regularly makes contact — and has power to boot. I look at him as a stronger version of Yankees great Derek Jeter.

Perhaps Andujar is not as contact oriented as Jeter, but he has a great presence in the batter’s box. So many Yankee fans were clamoring this past offseason about going out and signing Manny Machado. It wasn’t needed.

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Yes, Machado is a once in a generation type player, but he didn’t fit the style that the Yankees have built over the past three or so seasons.

This team in 2019 is the second coming of the “Core Four.” What we saw in the 90s-to-2014 when Jeter retired is what we are currently seeing with Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino and Gleyber Torres. Andujar is an integral part of that as well, especially if Sanchez struggles this season.

As Mike Calendrillo wrote back in December, Andujar’s defense will get better – he’s in his second season – so give him time to grow as a player.

"“Improve on the first step in the proper direction of the throw makes me better.”– Miguel Andujar"

Andujar is such an integral part of the Yanks – I can’t stress that enough. Without him last season, the Yankees DO NOT make the playoffs — they don’t. What he did in Judge’s absence was spectacular.

In 2018 season, his rookie season mind you, he batted .297 with 27 HR and 92 RBI. He set all sorts of offensive records as a rookie and was robbed of American League Rookie of the Year.

Yes, the defense was a problem – no question about it. But to throw in the towel after one season? I don’t get that. The Yankees are a young team and they’re ahead of schedule.

The new formula in baseball is to build up your farm system, then get prospects to the big leagues internally. Brian Cashman knows this. Why can’t Yankee fans realize it too?