5 Yankees That Must Make An Impact In 2021

 Clint Frazier

Frazier is expected to assume the everyday duties in left field this season. That now means that he will be under every watching eye of both the organization and fans alike. Should he have a productive year, it will go a long way to solidifying his future as a Yankee. On the other hand, any prolonged struggles will result in stark criticism as to whether he should continue to occupy the starting role. The sky's the limit for "Red Thunder" it is up to him how high his career will fly.

Aaron Judge

After taking home Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 with record setting numbers, Judge has found himself in a bit of a career crossroads. He has spent the last three seasons dealing with injuries stints that have hampered his overall productivity. If he stays healthy, he will make all the difference for Yankees offense that is looking to make an impact this season. It will also play a big part in landing a long-term deal to stay in pinstripes for the foreseeable future.

Corey Kluber

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After missing the entirety of 2020 with a shoulder issue, Kluber is looking to get back on track as a part of the Yankees rotation in 2021. He is going to deal with Skepticisms, mostly because of the unknown variables of his previously ailing arm. However, as a former two-time Cy Young winner he has the capability to be a top line starter that will pair nicely with Gerrit Cole.

Luis Severino

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Severino has not pitched since 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last February. The club is hopeful that he can round back into the All Star form he showed in the first half of the 2019 season. That would go a long way to ensuring the pitching staff is solidified as one of the best in the league. He is expected to be third in the rotation which will take some of the edge off his return but like Kluber, expect skeptics to keep a sharp eye on his form.

Gary Sanchez

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If there is anyone that needs to have an immediate impact on the team, it's beleaguered catcher Gary Sanchez. He has woefully underperformed both at and behind the plate for the past three seasons and in turn has worn down the patience of management and the Yankee faithful. If he cannot get out of this prolonged struggle, Sanchez could find himself benched for the duration of the season and quite possibly jettisoned out of the Bronx. This is a most important year for the 28-year-old who has spent nearly half of his life in the Yankees organization. So, one must be certain he does not want to see it come to an end on a disappointingly bitter note.

Yankee Players Poised for a Breakout Season in 2018

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Greg Bird

After an injury plagued 2017, Bird will be looking to redeem himself this year by not only staying healthy but putting up the type of numbers the Yankees have expected from him since his call up in 2016. If no hinderances occur, The Birdman could be just the hitter the club needs to anchor its already potent lineup. 

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Gary Sanchez

No other catcher in baseball hit more homers (33) than Sanchez last season, and fact that he did that while missing the first month makes it even more impressive. He did however struggle mightily in the playoffs both offensively and defensively which should serve as a great motivator for Sanchez to spring himself into the upper echelon of backstops in the MLB.

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Miguel Andujar

Andujar is perhaps the biggest surprise in spring training thus far. The 23-year-old is hitting a scorching .429 in 5 spring games while belting 4 homers to boot. If he continues his red-hot play, He could land himself a spot on the 25-man roster come and possibly the starting third base job come Opening Day. 

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Gleyber Torres

The Yankees hold Torres in high regard due to his overall talent as a hitter and infield defender. Since acquiring him from the Chicago Cubs in 2016, the team has looked to ready him for a big role in the team’s future. He was unfortunately set back after a he tore his UCL sliding into home plate in a Triple-A game last June. Now healthy, Torres will seek to pick up where he left off and climb his way in to the pinstripes in 2018

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Aaron Judge

What couldn’t say about the season Aaron Judge put together last year (52 HR 114 RBI). He took home Rookie of the Year honors and finished second in the AL MVP voting. Still, many felt that he could have accomplished even more had he not struggled in the second half of the year. Alongside newly acquired slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Judge could be hovering over a monster 2018 campaign that will add to his status as the premiere power hitter in all of baseball

Yankees: 4 Keys to Success in the ALCS

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Starting Pitching

The Yankees found some consistency in their starters in the division series from Sabathia, Severino, and Tanaka. With pitchers like Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and Lance McCullers opposing them, it will be imperative to get as many quality innings as possible if they want to come out victorious against the favored Astros.

Bullpen

The bullpen has been outstanding thus far and could be the difference maker in this best of seven series. If Girardi can push the right buttons at the right time, the Yankees stand a great chance to pull off another seemingly impossible feat. However, things could get potentially disastrous if certain arms are overused, so mixing it up should serve them well as they have five excellent arms at their disposal.

Didi Gregorious

Gregorious has been one of, if not the most important hitter in the Yankee lineup all season. His heroics helped lift the Yankees through both the Wild Card game and the Division Series and will be needed against Houston. If he can continue to deliver in the clutch, it will go a long way in determining what happens throughout the series. 

Aaron Judge

Things did not go well for Judge against Cleveland as he struck out sixteen times in five games due to poor plate discipline (and a rather unfair strike zone for a guy his height). That must change here as he the Astros will certainly look to expose him in key situations. If he can get back into form and contribute to the offense, he could be the catalyst that helps propel the Bronx Bombers to the World Series.

Yankees 2017: Who's Hot, Who's Not 2

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\Who's Hot

Gary Sanchez

August has been very nice to Sanchez thus far as he's hitting .333 through 15 games. If he is rounding into the form he had when he broke in last season, the rest of the American League should look out. 

Dellin Betances

After a few hiccups in July, Betances is once again pitching strong. He has yet to surrender a run this month and has successfully closed out two games. The Yankees are really going to need him to keep it up for the stretch run if they are going to make a push for the playoffs and the division.

Didi Gregorius

No Yankee bat is hotter than Didi's as he is swinging a scorching .359 with 23 hits in August. This season has been a revelation for the 27-year-old shortstop and should his good fortunes continue, he and the club will reap the benefits.

Luis Severino

Despite a rough outing against the Red Sox last week, Severino has proven the be the ace of the staff. He's has very impressive starts over the past two months and probably should have more wins to his record. Once a bit of an enigma, the Yankees look to have found something in the 23-year-old flamethrower.

Who's Not

Aroldis Chapman

It's been a frustrating month for the Yankee closer. His ERA is 10.38 and his command has abandoned him. Many fans are clamoring for Betances and Robertson to split the closer duties until Chapman is right, but Girardi is holding fast with position to keep him in the spot. How that will fare is anyone's guess.

Todd Frazier

Since being acquired in mid-July, Todd Frazier hasn't put together a strong showing at the plate hitting just .207 in 27 games. The Yankees have gotten by unscathed by his struggles, but you would like to see the veteran third baseman pick thigs up and make a healthy contribution through September.

Aaron Judge

Judge in a fall from grace period right now, posting a .189 average in August with league high 27 strikeouts. He also set a less than stellar mark as he has struck out in 34 consecutive games. Many had high hopes that he would be leading the MVP race at this point, but the league has adjusted to him and it will take an adjustment of his own if he wants to return to the form that took the league by storm before the All-Star break.

Yankees: Who's Hot, Who's Not

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Who's Hot

Dellin Betances

Aroldis Chapman is out for the next month with a shoulder injury, leaving the duties of closer to Betances whom has been more than up to the task. With a 0.73 ERA thus far, there is little doubt that he will prosper in the role, even if it is temporary.

Aaron Judge

In just a year, Judge has gone from a strikeout prone hacker to one of the best power hitters in baseball, His .331 average and 15 homers have every buzzing about his potential to become one of the games premiere players. If he can keep this up, he will surely get high consideration for Rookie of the Year and more. 

Starlin Castro

As the Yankees top hitter, Castro is proving to be well worth the trade as he has provided the team with something they haven't has since losing Robinson Cano. 

Who's Not

Masahiro Tanaka

It has a struggle to say the least for the man tagged as the ace of the staff. Tanaka has just two quality starts to his resume this season and is currently marred in a dismal slump in which he's surrendered 10 homers and 21 earned runs in May alone. It is critical that Tanaka get back on track or it could be a long season for the prized Japanese import, and if he should decide (Tanaka can opt out of his contract at the end of the year) his last in pinstripes.

Chase Headley

After a promising start, Headley finds himself in a bit of a spiral as he's hitting just .172 in May. 

Tommy Layne

The Yankees left hander have not fared well this season and Tommy Layne may be the worst of all. Sporting an inflated 8.18 ERA in 14 appearances, there isn't much reason for the team to rely on him in any situation. The team may be best suited finding a replacement to get more consistency out of their left handed middle relief.

Yankee Prospects With Bright Futures

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Greg Bird

Bird made his debut in the final months of 2015 and quickly showed what he could bring to the table. Many were certain Bird had secured a spot on the Opening Day roster this season, but a shoulder issue and subsequent surgery shelved him for 2016. With Mark Teixeira calling it a career at season's end and Bird ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, the Yankees will more than likely give him the nod as the new everyday first baseman.

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Gary Sanchez

He's been touted as the catcher of the future since the Yankees signed him 2009 and there is a lot about him that certainly backs up that sentiment. His big bat and game knowledge behind the plate is a match made in heaven for an organization that has built a fine reputation for grooming backstops. Once he gets a few seasons under his belt, there will be little doubt as to why the Yankees were willing to deal their former top catching prospect Jesus Montero to clear his way.

Aaron Judge

He has all the makings of a premier power hitter that will put up tremendous power numbers in his career. At 6'7"and 275 pounds, the defensive end sized outfielder has the potential to make an impact similar to that of Giancarlo Stanton and the recently retired Adam Dunn. After starting his career off with a bang (literally) It's definitely going to be exciting to watch Judge develop his game while building a reputation as legitimate threat in the middle of the order.

Clint Frazier

Frazier may not have been with the Yankees to start off, but after acquiring him in a trade with the Cleveland Indians he's now the team's new top prospect. One has to figure that once he gets settled in Scranton it will only be a matter of time until he proves he proves to be a valuable asset that will make an impact at the Major League level. 

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Tyler Austin

A 13th round pick in 2010, Austin has had a solid minor league career hitting .287 with 61 home runs and 316 RBI in 5 years. Despite a minor setback in 2013 due to a wrist injury Austin's consistency was not fazed as he continued to improve his game, learning multiple positions along the way. He's certainly poised to make a run at a permanent spot on the roster in 2017.

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Jorge Mateo

Arguably one of the fastest players in the minors, Mateo has all the tools to be a stellar middle infielder in the years to come. His ability to be aggressive at the plate makes him an ideal leadoff hitter, but he does have a propensity to strike out and has made a few too many errors at short. If he can put it all together, he'll make a fast rise through Double-A and Triple-A, paving a path for to becoming the shortstop of the future.