Yankees' Breakout Players, Most Disappointing to Start 2023 Season
The New York Yankees have a roster loaded with established veteran talent, but that doesn't mean there is no room for a breakout performance.
Rookie Anthony Volpe has taken over as the team's everyday shortstop, and while he is still settling in at the plate, his defense and speed have made him a valuable player and he's just scratching the surface of his future potential. The bullpen has also featured a handful of under-the-radar standouts who have helped prop up a banged-up pitching staff.
On the other end of the spectrum, there have also been plenty of disappointments on the roster, and pinpointing the biggest disappointment thus far is no easy task.
Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the biggest breakout players, as well as the most disappointing one, on the Yankees roster through the first quarter of the 2023 season.
Under-the-Radar Breakout: SS Anthony Volpe
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We're calling Anthony Volpe an "under-the-radar" breakout because a quick glance at his surface-level statistics might lead the casual fan to believe he's having a poor rookie season.
While it's true his .207/.291/.379 batting line leaves a lot to be desired, he has tallied 14 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 50 games. In fact, he has gone a perfect 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts, and according to FanGraphs he ranks second in the majors in overall baserunning value, behind only Oakland Athletics rookie Esteury Ruiz.
The 22-year-old has also been solid defensively, and his three Defensive Runs Saved are tied for seventh among shortstops, trailing only Ezequiel Tovar (4) among rookies at one of the most demanding positions on the field.
All of that has made him a 1.1-WAR player, a total eclipsed by only four players on the Yankees roster, and that's a great example of how a player's value can stretch well beyond his batting average.
Biggest Disappointment: IF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera
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There are plenty of potential disappointments to choose from on the Yankees roster, but turning the focus away from players who have missed time to injury, there is a strong case to be made that Oswaldo Cabrera tops the list.
The 24-year-old provided an immediate spark when he made his MLB debut last August, and he posted a 109 OPS+ with 15 extra-base hits and 2.0 WAR in 44 games down the stretch while playing all over the field defensively.
Expected to settle in as the primary left fielder this year and to plug a long-standing hole on the roster, he has instead struggled to a .204/.258/.310 line and logged minus-0.5 WAR in 43 games.
The hole in left field remains, and Cabrera has been a complete non-factor through the first quarter of the season.
Biggest Breakout: RHP Ian Hamilton
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Reliever Ian Hamilton made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2018, posting a 4.50 ERA in 10 appearances over the final month-plus of the season.
In the four seasons that followed, he made just five total appearances in the big leagues, including a lone outing for the Minnesota Twins last season in which he allowed three hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings.
The Yankees signed him to a minor league deal during the offseason, and he has been an early standout in middle relief, posting a 1.23 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 12.3 K/9 in 16 appearances before landing on the injured list with a strained groin.
With club control through the 2028 season, he looks like a great under-the-radar pickup who could be a low-cost contributor for years to come.
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