Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees: 8 players unable to live up to the hype

By Ryan Doyle

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 22: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Greg Bird #33 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 22: A detailed view of the Franklin batting gloves worn by Greg Bird #33 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Youkilis #36 of the New York Yankees in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2.. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kevin Youkilis #36 of the New York Yankees in action against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2.. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3B Kevin Youkilis (2013)

As the organization dealt with injuries to a number of its aging stars, the Yankees signed Kevin Youkilis to a pricey, one-year, $12 million contract as Alex Rodriguez was on the mend.

Youkilis was a dreaded “Yankee-killer” for almost a decade with the Boston Red Sox. His no-nonsense, professional approach at the plate earned him three All-Star appearances, with his last coming just two years before his Yankees tenure.

However, Youkilis’ numbers fell off a cliff in 2012. He hit for a career-worst .235 average and .336 on-base percentage with Boston and the Chicago White Sox.

Still, New York fans had high expectations for the veteran third baseman, especially with the hefty price-tag attached to him. And years of him slapping base hits against helpless Yankees pitching.

A back injury hampered Youkilis from the get-go in 2013. He tried to play through the injury but was ineffective and his season came to an end after he appeared in 28 games with a .219/.305/.343 line and that’s how his career would end.

Youkilis came into the fold with a reputation as a tremendous hitter and someone who can help keep the Yankees lineup competitive as some of the team’s best players were injured. Sadly, Youkilis’ best days were behind him and his Yankees career was over in the blink of an eye.

After breaking Yankees fans’ hearts for years in Boston, he gave Yankees fans one more unintentional punch in the proverbial gut.

Home/Yankees History