Yankees Players With Most to Prove for Rest of 2024 Season

The New York Yankees have looked like one of the favorites in the American League during an impressive 51-25 start to the season, and they did that without ace Gerrit Cole who finally returned to the mound on Wednesday.

However, there are a handful of Yankees players with something to prove the rest of the way, and they could turn out to be X-factors over the final few months of the season.

Whether it's an underperforming or injured star, an upcoming free agent or a breakout performer at a key position who needs to maintain his current level of production, there are many reasons why someone might have something to prove.

Ahead, we've highlighted three such players on the Yankees roster.

LHP Carlos Rodón

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 10: Carlos Rodón #55 of the New York Yankees throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The last two times Carlos Rodón has taken the mound for the Yankees is a perfect microcosm of his boom-or-bust potential.

• June 10 (@ KC): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• June 15 (@ BOS): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

After struggling to a 6.85 ERA over 64.1 innings in the first season of his six-year, $162 million contract, he has been much closer to the top-of-the-rotation pitcher who earned that contract this year with a 3.28 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 85 innings.

The outlook of the Yankees staff improves greatly when Rodón is providing that level of production, but his inconsistent track record and long injury history still give him plenty to prove every time he takes the mound.

2B Gleyber Torres

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 13: New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) reacts after striking out during the New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals MLB game on June 13, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This is not the contract year Gleyber Torres envisioned.

The 27-year-old has been one of the more productive second basemen in the league the last few seasons, posting a career-high 4.0 WAR in 2023 and logging a 118 OPS+ with 25 home runs and 68 RBI a year ago.

Entering his final year of club control, he had the potential to secure his place as one of the top free agents on the upcoming offseason market, but instead he has struggled through the worst year of his career.

There is still plenty of time for him to pump up his numbers, but if he fails to improve on his current .221/.301/.332 batting line he might have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency.

RHP Gerrit Cole

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 21: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees throws from the mound before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

It's not often the defending Cy Young winner and a guy squarely in the conversation for best pitcher in baseball has something to prove, but that's the case for Gerrit Cole after he missed the first 75 games of the year.

Through those first 75 games, the Yankees ranked first in the majors with a 2.86 ERA from their starting rotation, and the emergence of rookie Luis Gil has gone a long way in plugging the hole in the starting rotation.

However, if the Yankees are going to go on a legitimate World Series title run, it still feels like they are going to need Cole to pitch at a frontline level during the second half and into October.

The 33-year-old is 10-6 with a 2.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 104.1 career innings in the postseason.