3 surprising trouble spots for Yankees that have already emerged

The New York Yankees have enjoyed a solid start to their 2025 campaign. While home runs, and the torpedo bats that have partially helped produce them, have provided reasons to be optimistic, there are three trouble spots that are worth noting.

Even though though this season's sample size is extremely small, certain aspects of New York's initial home stand were enough to raise some real red flags that could be problematic if they turn into habitual issues.

3 surprising trouble spots for Yankees that have already emerged

3. Strikeouts

Following the Yankees' opening series massacre of the Milwaukee Brewers, they dropped the first two games of their set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. While these contests did include some memorable power swings, they also featured more strikeouts than one would want to see.

In the series opener, the Yankees struck out 14 times, with eight punchouts coming courtesy of Arizona starter Corbin Burnes. The second game was a touch worse. Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen struck out 13 hitters, and New York went down on strikes 16 total times.

Obviously, one can't draw any tangible conclusions from this (especially since the team has hit extremely well on the whole). Still, they must not allow strikeouts to pile up consistently, especially against top-tier starting pitching.

2. Spotty production from third base options

This may be an issue for a large portion of the regular season.

Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Pablo Reyes are nice utility pieces, but they are not true offensive weapons who have shown they can consistently produce at the plate.

Cabrera enjoyed a solid game in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates that included three hits and 4 RBI, but it is not known if the 26-year-old can make those kind of performances a more regular occurrence. There is little reason to consider his emergence a surety.

Peraza clubbed a home run during the Yanks' 20-9 win over the Brewers, but it is too early in his career to expect a dramatic jump in production; he hasn't been given much of a chance to replicate that cameo. Meanwhile, Reyes made the roster out of necessity as a journeyman after an excellent spring.

1. Shaky middle relief

Injuries have somewhat impacted the Yankees' bullpen. Not having Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, or Jonathan Loaisiga has made the group weaker.

During the afortmentioned first two games against Arizona, New York's bullpen faltered. They had a 4-2 lead in Game 1 before Tim Hill and Mark Leiter Jr. allowed the Diamondbacks to post five runs and take a lead.

While the Bombers won the series finale, Ryan Yarbrough surrendered a grand slam and let the game become much closer than it needed to be. This does not figure to be a long-term issue for the Yankees, but this will be an incomplete grade until we see what the bullpen looks like at full strength.