Dates: March 20, 2024 – June 16, 2024

In the previous article on the 2024 mid-season analysis of the Yankees, we discussed the performance of the starting and relief pitchers. This article will focus on the Yankees’ offensive and defensive performance.

⚾️ New York Yankees Offensive Performance ⚾️

Below is the current overall offensive performance of the Yankees’ batters:

This year, the Yankees’ scoring efficiency has been excellent, with both on-base percentage and slugging percentage ranking second in the league. The team’s OPS is 0.769, slightly behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (OPS 0.770). Additionally, the Yankees’ scoring ability is very strong, averaging 5.08 runs per game, the highest in the major leagues.

Last season, the Yankees’ offensive firepower was somewhat lacking, with an overall OPS of only 0.701, ranking 24th, and team scoring also at the bottom of the league. During the 2023-2024 off-season roster adjustments, not only did new member Juan Soto perform excellently (acquired through a trade with the San Diego Padres), but many of the team’s existing power hitters also stabilized their hitting performance, giving the Yankees a clear offensive advantage in the major leagues.

Below are the offensive stats for the Yankees’ main hitters (at least 150 at-bats):

This season, the strongest part of the Yankees’ lineup has undoubtedly been the 2-3 hitters, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Not only have they excelled in batting average and on-base percentage, but their precise pitch selection has also provided more on-base opportunities. Additionally, timely performances from lower in the batting order have successfully protected these two power hitters, a key factor in the Yankees’ outstanding offensive performance this season.

In fact, Aaron Judge had a less than ideal start to the season, with his batting average hovering around .200 in the first 3-4 weeks. However, from May to June, Judge’s performance greatly improved, with monthly batting averages exceeding .350, even reaching an astonishing .404 in June, with an on-base percentage breaking fifty percent (.525). This means Aaron Judge had more than a fifty percent chance of getting on base every time he stepped up to the plate.

As for Juan Soto, his batting performance this season has been a breakthrough compared to previous seasons (2021-2023). This year, not only has Soto maintained his precise pitch selection (leading in walks over strikeouts for five consecutive seasons from 2020-2024), but his hitting and slugging percentages have also improved. Notably, this year Juan Soto, protected by Aaron Judge batting next, did not receive any intentional walks, allowing him more normal offensive opportunities to effectively utilize his hitting strength.

This year, the Yankees have had stable main players at various positions. Compared to previous seasons when injuries impacted their offensive performance, this year they have not been troubled by ‘health issues,’ allowing them to excel in multiple positions.

Additionally, at the catcher position for the Yankees, Jose Trevino and Austin Wells have rotated, with both seeing a significant number of games this season. Jose Trevino’s OPS has reached .753 this season, surpassing his performance in the past six seasons, making him one of the new highlights for the Yankees. Rookie catcher Austin Wells, although average in offensive performance, has made a significant contribution defensively. With several powerful hitters on the team, Wells’ overall contribution remains significant.

Currently, the Yankees’ offense has been disappointing at the cleanup spot. This season, the team’s cleanup hitters have an overall OPS of only .611, ranking 28th in the league, with the lowest on-base percentage in the major leagues at .264. If this issue can be addressed, it will provide more protection for the top of the lineup, especially for Aaron Judge.

⚾️ New York Yankees Defensive Performance ⚾️

Below is this season’s overall defensive performance of the Yankees:

Defensive Metrics Definitions:
Def / Runs saved by fielders compared to league average.
OAA / Outs Above Average, the number of outs a fielder makes above the average.
DRS / Defensive Runs Saved, a metric that shows how many runs a player saves defensively over an average player at the same position.
UZR/150 / Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games, a measure of defensive range.

This year, the Yankees’ overall defensive performance has been quite good. Although not particularly outstanding in basic fielding rate, their advanced defensive metrics rank in the top 10 in the league, with a broad defensive range that helps save more runs for the team. This is one of the key factors behind the Yankees’ excellent pitching performance this season.

The Yankees’ catchers have performed excellently this season, with a team DRS of 12, ranking first in the league, mainly due to their excellent ‘frame rate’ (FRM 6.7, ranking first in the league). This helps Yankees pitchers get

more favorable calls on borderline pitches, increasing the effectiveness of their pitching.

The Yankees’ infield defense has been average overall this year, but their third base defense, with a DRS of 6, ranks second in the league, standing out compared to other infield positions. Additionally, the recent return of veteran DJ LeMahieu to the Yankees’ lineup is expected to enhance the overall infield defense and depth.

This season, the Yankees’ outfield defense has improved significantly. Last season, the team’s DRS was -26, ranking 29th, just ahead of the Miami Marlins. This season, the Yankees’ team DRS has improved to 8, jumping to sixth in the league. Even this season, the Yankees’ outfield has not committed any errors, with a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000.

Additionally, Yankees’ rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe has brought significant defensive value to the team over the past two years (2023-2024). Volpe not only has a broad defensive range but also exhibits outstanding error control, significantly enhancing the stability of the Yankees’ shortstop defense in recent years.

This data change is closely related to the more fixed outfield choices for the Yankees this season. During the 2023-2024 off-season, the Yankees strengthened their outfield defense by acquiring defensively talented outfielders, including Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham. Even the power-hitting but defensively weaker Juan Soto has shown improvements in advanced defensive metrics this season.

Sources:
Fangraphs
MLB Official Website
Baseball Reference
Taiwan Baseball Wiki
Wikipedia
Major League Baseball Encyclopedia