Who Plays Center Field for the Yankees?

The New York Yankees have had many great players over the years. Who plays center field for them now?

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The Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City, the other being the National League’s (NL) New York Mets. The Yankees began play in the 1901 season as the Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the modern Baltimore Orioles). In 1913, the team moved from Baltimore to New York, which became their home until the end of the 1957 season, after which they moved to Kansas City. The club was then renamed the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees used to play their home games in the original Yankee Stadium from 1923 until it closed in 2008, and have since played in a new Yankee Stadium which opened in 2009.

The team’s history

The Yankees began play in the 1901 season as the Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the modern Baltimore Orioles). In 1903, Frank Farrell and Bill Devery acquired the franchise after the club folded, and moved it to New York City, where they renamed it the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913.

The team’s current roster

THE YANKEES (39-27)

Manager: Aaron Boone

Roster:

Infielders: Luke Voit, Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andújar, Troy Tulowitzki, DJ LeMahieu, Kendrys Morales, Edwin Encarnación

Outfielders: Mike Tauchman, Clint Frazier, Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge

catcher: Gary Sánchez

Designated hitter: Kendrys Morales

Starting pitchers (5): Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo Germán, Luis Severino, J.A. Happ, CC Sabathia

Relief pitchers (8): Zack Britton (disabled list), Dellin Betances (disabled list), Aroldis Chapman, Chasen Shreve , Tommy Kahnle , Adam Ottavino , Stephen Tarpley , Nestor Cortes Jr.

Center field

The center fielder is a position in baseball. They play in the outfield and their job is to catch fly balls and prevent runs from scoring. The center fielder is also responsible for throwing out runners who are trying to advance to the next base. The center fielder is one of the most important players on the field and they need to have a lot of speed and agility.

The position’s history

In baseball, the center fielder is the outfielder who plays defense in center field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the center fielder is assigned the number “8”. Outfielders must cover large distances – speed, agility and quickness are key attributes. As well as being fast and having good range, center fielders need to have a strong arm to make long throws to the bases.

Center field is considered the most difficult outfield position to play, and as a result there are usually fewer players who can play the position skillfully. In fact, many teams use left fielders or right fielders in center field when they do not have a truly skilled center fielder. However, some teams have been known to have great success with players who are not traditional “power hitters” in the middle of their lineup.

The position’s current players

The Yankees have employed many players in the role of center fielder over the years, with a few having had long and storied careers with the team. The most recent primary center fielder for the Yankees is Aaron Hicks, who has held the position since the start of the 2017 season. Before him, Jacoby Ellsbury manned center field for the Bronx Bombers from 2014 to 2016. Prior to Ellsbury, Curtis Granderson held down center field for the Yankees from 2010 to 2013.

Brett Gardner has also seen significant time in center field for the Yankees throughout his career, including during each of the past three seasons. Gardner is currently theYankees’ starting left fielder, but he has experience playing all three outfield positions and could be called upon to play center field again at some point.

Why the Yankees need a center fielder

The Yankees have been without a true center fielder since trading for Giancarlo Stanton. Aaron Hicks has been injured for most of the past two seasons, and while Brett Gardner has done an admirable job in center, he is getting up there in age. The Yankees need a center fielder who can provide some stability in the outfield.

The team’s current situation

The New York Yankees have been in a bit of a slump as of late. They are currently without a true center fielder, and their outfield has been suffering as a result. This past season, the Yankees used a platoon of Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury in center field, and while they were both solid defenders, the lack of a true center fielder hurt the team’s overall outfield performance.

The Yankees need to find a center fielder who can provide them with solid defense and some production at the plate. With Gardner and Ellsbury both getting up there in age, the Yankees need to find a young center fielder who can step in and be a mainstay in the lineup for years to come.

The team’s future outlook

Looking at the Yankees’ current roster, it’s clear that they need a center fielder. With Aaron Hicks injured and Giancarlo Stanton playing right field, the team is lacking a true center fielder. Brett Gardner is the only outfield player on the roster who has experience playing center field, but he is getting up there in age (36) and may not be able to handle the demanding position for much longer.

The Yankees have some internal options that could step into a starting role in center field, but they all come with question marks. Clint Frazier is a talented young player, but he has yet to prove himself at the major league level. Jacoby Ellsbury is still under contract, but he hasn’t played in a game since 2017 due to injuries. And Aaron Judge has played some center field in his career, but he is better suited for right field.

So, if the Yankees want to remain contenders for the foreseeable future, they need to find a long-term solution in center field. They could look to free agency or trade for a established star like Cleveland’s Bradley Zimmer. Or they could take a gamble on an unproven prospect like Estevan Florial. Whoever they decide to go with, the Yankees need to act fast to solidify their outfield for years to come.