3 Yankees poised to start strong in shortened season

A look at three Yankees set to explode once the 2020 season begins

The 2020 Major League Baseball season will be a new experience for every single player, including those wearing the pinstripes of the New York Yankees. Potentially empty stadiums, a fragmented season and what could be life in quarantine will force players to adjust to their new, and (hopefully temporary) professional situations.

While every player will certainly be itching to get back onto the field, a short “Spring Training” and a different atmosphere at ballparks are certainly valid reasons to impact someone’s performance early on.

For players that typically use February and most of March to get into form, the multi-month layoff and short training period may not be enough for some by the time the season starts. Travel arrangements and other logistical aspects of the season are likely to be impacted too. Potentially rearranging an athlete’s ever-so precious routine.

Frankly, it would be hard to blame players for needing a few games to gather themselves and find their bearings.

At the same time, this historic season could provide a handful of players with an opportunity to put together an amazing stretch. Hitters won’t have to deal with the subpar weather in March and April and may be at an advantage as face a multi-month period without facing Major League batters.

There are players that, for whatever reason start each season off on the right foot. Even the Yankees, who unfortunately play a chunk of cold weather baseball early in the year (Oh how everyone loves those trips to Detroit in April) have a handful of players who are typically unbothered in any situation.

Moreover,  some of New York’s best players have the baseball-first mentality and the statistical resume to show that once the season begins, they are ready to perform.

One Yankees also stands out as having something to prove heading into the 2020 campaign. After dealing with injury after injury, one pinstriped-slugger is poised to regain his MVP form and come out of the gates hot with a fellow power bat likely on the mend.

Here are three Yankees stars who will be ready to roll once the first pitch is thrown.

A look at three Yankees set to explode once the 2020 season begins

2B DJ LeMahieu

Pick your adjective. Composed. Focus. Unfazed.

No matter what the 2020 season looks like, Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu will likely be his typical self.

Throughout his career, LeMahieu has been the definition of consistency. Take a look at any of his career splits. Break him down month-by-month, first half or second half of the year or where he sits in the batting order and LeMahieu’s numbers are eerily similar.

The consistency is apparent when looking at his career splits for the first and second half of seasons. In his career, he boasts a .302/.355/.417 in the first half and a .302/.352/.429 in the second half of the year.

Of course, LeMahieu proved last season that no pressure is too big for him. The bright lights of New York were something he fed off on his way to a top-five MVP finish, All-Star appearance, and Silver Slugger Award.

Lengthy slumps seem impossible to LeMahieu thanks to his approach at the plate. In the modern game where strikeouts and home runs dominate, LeMahieu has a change of pace, old-school style of hitting.

Plus, LeMahieu has a contract to play for. Looking back, the Yankees two-year, $24 million deal may be one of general manager Brian Cashman’s best transactions. Entering his age 31 season, LeMahieu should have a few strong seasons ahead of him as he enters the backend of his prime.

From what Yankees fans witnessed a year ago, LeMaheiu certainly doesn’t need any more reason to be one of the team’s top contributors this season.

With his no-nonsense makeup, LeMahieu projects as a reliable hitter regardless of how baseball will look in the near future.

A look at three Yankees set to explode once the 2020 season begins

RF Giancarlo Stanton

Last season, Giancarlo Stanton was on the verge of breaking out and proving to the ever-demanding Yankees fanbase that he belonged in pinstripes.

After returning from an early-season injury, Stanton played well for a handful of games in June, before a freak incident on the basepaths sent him to the injured list for another three months.

As Yankees fans and Stanton grew frustrated with setback after setback, he played well through the end of September and looked ready to contribute in the postseason. Stanton, who failed to make his mark against the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 Division Series, sought redemption.

It looked like redemption was in his grasp. He worked counts, found himself on-base plenty (.455 OBP in the ALDS) and finally broke through against Zack Greinke in the ALCS with a monstrous home run.

Injuries would yet again hamper his redemption tour.

All reports indicate Stanton will be 100 percent once baseball is back. With Aaron Judge’s availability still in question, the Yankees will need Stanton more than ever as their quest for a 28th World Series begins.

Perhaps short stints during an injury-plagued season won’t create much optimism for some. However, using Stanton’s 2018 season, in which he played 158 games, could help project what fans can expect from Stanton in 2020.

Looking at the first half of 2018, which included a rough April, Stanton still accumulated a .278/.346/.518 line, with 23 homers and 55 RBI in 94 games.

With health on his side, Stanton will be able to duplicate those numbers in a fragmented 2020 season. After barely making an impact last year, Stanton is set for a loud return.