3 Yankees who will shatter expectations in 2023

Most New York Yankees fans are wondering how Aaron Judge will follow up his 2022 AL MVP campaign. Others are praying DJ LeMahieu returns to form. Some are holding out hope Josh Donaldson experiences a bounce back. Guys like Gleyber Torres, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and even Anthony Volpe will be closely watched throughout 2023.

The stakes are higher and more demanding for some players. Some can handle it. Others can't. But what about some of the guys flying under the radar a bit?

Only so many Yankees players can catch heat, right? Can't be grilling everyone on the 26-man active roster. Can't be expecting everyone to perform at an All-Star level. Those lucky enough to avoid the vitriol and/or mounting pressure benefit from a more relaxed enviroment.

These players fall under that category, which should foreshadow promising 2023 campaigns as the Yankees look to get back to the World Series.

3 Yankees who will shatter expectations in 2023

3. Ron Marinaccio

It quickly became obvious how important Ron Marinaccio was to the Yankees' bullpen when he was optioned to Triple-A in August and then lost for the postseason with a shin injury. The right-hander, in his rookie season, finished with a 2.05 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 1.05 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 40 games (44 innings).

For all the folks concerned about the bullpen, the departures of Aroldis Chapmand and Zack Britton actually help. The re-introductions of Marinaccio, Michael King and Tommy Kahnle will be enormous. Marinaccio should have the least amount of pressure on him, too, just based on the reliever pecking order.

Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Lou Trivino, King, Kahnle and even Clarke Schmidt are either throwing higher-leverage innings or facing mounting pressure to deliver based on shortcomings or regressions. Marinaccio's 2022 season was extremely impressive and he never really faltered. We're not sure any Yankees fan has sat down and established expectations for the right-hander.

Just the way we like it. That should make him a dark horse candidate to emerge as one of the team's most important relievers.

1. Oswald Peraza

Has any Yankees shortstop following Derek Jeter faced less pressure than Oswald Peraza? Didi Gregorius, Gleyber Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa feel like they were chewed up and spit out at various times. Peraza's arrival was met with relief from Yankees fans.

He got the call when rosters expanded in September and took some reps from the disappointing IKF down the stretch. He eventually got a start in the ALCS when fan frustration reached an all-time high with IKF. Peraza's slick glove and electric bat (.306 AVG, .832 OPS in 18 regular-season games) has many feeling optimistic.

But still, it feels like more focus is on top prospect Anthony Volpe, who will also be competing for the starting shortstop job, but is certainly a longshot because of his limited experience beyond Double-A. Peraza already paid his dues at Triple-A, and has proven himself at the big-league level, even though the sample size has been small.

On top of avoiding rosy projections thus far, many Yankees fans are trying to envision what the infield might look like should Volpe make the Opening Day roster. Even if that doesn't happen, others are envisioning a world where at least one of IKF, Torres or Josh Donaldson are traded before the season starts (or by the deadline). There's more concern with cleaning up the mess rather than living with what's on the roster.

That turmoil has taken the spotlight off Peraza, who should win the job with even a pedestrian showing in spring training. He's already contributed to a division winner in Sept. and Oct., so he should have no problem picking up where he left off.

As the trade rumors continue to swirl alongside Volpe's journey (after getting invited to spring training), Peraza will sit back comfortably, play his game, and be a surprise rookie performer in the eyes of the general baseball community as we progress through 2023.