The Yankees Have An IKF Experiment In Play On Friday
The New York Yankees are trying their 2022 shortstop, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, in center field this spring.
He was spotted shagging fly balls there this week and he is in the lineup at that position on Friday.
IKF ➡️ CF https://t.co/nH8tKxfsFM
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 17, 2023
The former Gold Glover at third base was acquired last season to be a stopgap at shortstop for a year.
Things didn’t go as planned, though, because he hit just four homers and had a .642 OPS, one of the worst marks in the league for a regular.
Still, the Yankees have correctly identified that he has value as a utility player.
He can cover catcher, shortstop, third base, and the organization is testing him in center field to see if he can play there in a pinch.
If he can, he should increase his trade value, and the franchise would love to get something back for him.
If they can’t he is likely to stay and be a backup all over the diamond.
As for the shortstop position, the Yankees are apparently ready to hand it to one of their exciting young prospects.
Which one, though?
Oswald Peraza is the favorite: between Triple-A and the majors, he hit 20 homers and stole 35 bases.
However, Anthony Volpe is impressing everybody this spring and remains in play to win the gig despite his lack of Triple-A experience.
It could go either way, but Kiner-Falefa has likely lost his spot as an everyday player with his lousy offensive performance in 2022.
He is a candidate to be wearing another uniform at some point this year, either now or just before the trade deadline.