3 sneaky Yankees players who could impact second half of 2023 season

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If the 2023 Yankees are going to ascend the way they're hoping to, they're going to need to receive a few sparks from unexpected places.

One spark won't be enough. Have you seen this offense? Even Anthony Volpe's resurgence atop the lineup as been unable to jolt the starting nine out of their slumber.

Eventually, the Yankees are going to have to employ drastic methods to address this drought if they want to stop lingering around last place. The returns of Luis Severino and Carlos Rodón will help, but ... are we sure that's happening? And, if both men toe the rubber, all that does is add a few additional 2-1 ballgames to the docket. Someday, somehow, this team will have to hit.

Will there be trade deadline deals? There'd better be. In the current multi-Wild Card era, thanks to the new playoff format, the Yankees should always pursue a spot at every opportunity, no matter how disappointing they've been in the preceding months. Hopefully, those deals work out better than 2022's deadline, which now features two Tommy Johns, a shoulder surgery, and an outfielder's wrist snap.

Help might also be on the way internally, too, thanks to an emerging prospect, a veteran wild card, and a top prospect's return from injury.

3 players who could contribute to 2023 New York Yankees in second half

Austin Wells

Guess who's back? Guess who bats lefty? And guess who could easily absorb DH reps down the stretch if his 2023 season goes to plan in May, June and July?

Austin Wells has been lost in the prospect shuffle to begin 2023, thanks to Jasson Dominguez's incredible spring training, Anthony Volpe's promotion and Oswald Peraza's MLB cameo. While those three were stating their cases, Wells was on the shelf, dealing with a broken rib since the very start of camp.

After a five-game rehab stint with Low-A Tampa last week, Wells has now been elevated to Double-A Somerset. While there, he'll be working on his development behind the plate in an effort to prove himself as a catcher rather than a bat-first option. The Yankees will be paying attention to that, of course ... but for 2023, Wells' most important tool is his lumber. If he hits, he'll have an obvious path to playing time in the Yankees' nebulous DH rotation.

Wells will turn 24 in mid-July, the same age Aaron Judge was when he debuted in the summer of 2016 in a last-ditch effort to turn around a supremely dull Yankees season. When the Yankees drafted the Arizona catcher in 2020, his calling card was his advanced bat, which most analysts agreed could get him to the bigs relatively quickly no matter what his defense ultimately became. If he spends the next two months raking, as we believe he can, he'll have a place in the Bronx by August, playing the role of 2023's Oswaldo Cabrera.

Kole Calhoun

At 35 years old, it's entirely possible that lefty-swinging outfielder Kole Calhoun is over the hill. After all, he hasn't posted an above-average offensive season since the shortened 2020, and despite 12 dingers last year, he still finished with a woeful 67 OPS+.

If you're looking for a savior, Calhoun probably isn't your guy. But unlike recent lottery tickets in Willie (the other) Calhoun and Franchy Cordero, the track record is there for the new guy, who spent his 20s as a thorn in the American League's side with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on both sides of the ball. He's been patient, tenacious, and special in the field, winning a Gold Glove during his halcyon days back in 2015.

In truth, trying to unlock Calhoun's love for the short porch probably should've been the Yankees' first shot at redemption rather than one of their more recent swings. He's felt like a natural fit as a 26th man for a few years now, built in the mold of gritty bench veterans of rosters past. And -- be honest -- you completely forgot we silently signed him a few weeks back.

Calhoun finally reported to Triple-A Scranton this week, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in his debut. While it's very possible that chasing Calhoun turns into a fruitless pursuit the way Derek Dietrich Watch did a few years back, he certainly has the pedigree to contribute this season, as long as he can find his sea legs in May and June.

Elijah Dunham (While We All Watch Spencer Jones)

You want it to be Spencer Jones. You need it to be Spencer Jones. But the 2022 first-round pick is still just 21 years old, and even as he conquers High-A, it would be difficult to envision the Yankees going wild and elevating him above Double-A by the end of this season (which, hopefully, would be the corresponding move for Jasson Dominguez's promotion to Scranton).

While all eyes will certainly be on Jones as he attempts to overcome physical precedent (Aaron Judge and Dave Winfield excluded) and race through the minors, Scranton's Elijah Dunham is the more likely Yankees outfield prospect to get a second-half opportunity.

The Athletic's Chris Kirschner pinpointed Dunham's slow start in a recent column about left field options and, at the time, he was 100% correct. Then, Dunham went on a weekend tear to raise his OPS 50 points and officially put himself back on the map.

Dunham is -- you guessed it! -- a lefty bat with a power-speed profile. Last summer with Somerset, he ripped 17 homers and stole 37 bags, still somehow flying under the radar. He wasn't Volpe, who he shared a roster with. He wasn't Dominguez, who showed up before the playoffs. He wasn't even the most prominent speedster in his own outfield -- that was supposed to be the eternally overlooked Brandon Lockridge, who finished 19 stolen bases behind Dunham.

Dunham got the call to Triple-A first, though, and after a difficult few weeks, appears to be finding his footing on offense and defense. It's no surprise Jake Bauers got the call first, but don't be stunned if Dunham's next in line, especially with a little 40-man roster flexibility in the bullpen and outfield picture (sorry, Franchy).

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3 players who could contribute to 2023 New York Yankees in second half

Austin Wells

Kole Calhoun

Elijah Dunham (While We All Watch Spencer Jones)

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