Alex Verdugo has rediscovered his striking stroke.
The New York Yankees have recently received a lot of negative attention, but their five-game winning run is changing that. On Wednesday, the team completed a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks in large part to the fact that everyone in the lineup save Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is hitting again.
Outfielder Alex Verdugo spoke with YES Network about whether there is a different vibe in the clubhouse these days.
"We know who we've got, we know who we are as a whole and we've got each other's backs no matter what."
Alex Verdugo discusses the Yankees re-discovering their identity. pic.twitter.com/f05HabB3uO
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 31, 2024
“I mean yeah, I guess in a sense kinda, but not really,” Verdugo claimed. “With our own squad, like here in the clubhouse, we know who we have. We know who we are as a group and have each other’s backs no matter what. We knew it was only a matter of time until we all started coming out of our funks and contributing. Obviously the major guys for us; they’ve been there all season.”
The term “big guys” refers to Judge and Soto. While the rest of the squad struggled, Judge batted.409 and.333 in June and July, respectively. Soto hit.275 and.330.
Verdugo was one of many struggling players at the plate during that time, hitting.219 and.220. However, the former Boston Red Sox has seven hits in his last eight games.
“Obviously for me, I think the biggest thing was just staying inside the ball and getting back to my strengths which was really just using the other field,” said Verdugo. “We’re feeling a lot better just not trying to do too much in the box, let the big guys do all that.”
Will Verdugo and New York keep moving in the right direction?
The Yankees have shown that this win streak isn’t a fluke
New York has already won five consecutive games, and its 65 wins tie the Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies for the most in Major League Baseball. While the Yankees were only 25-26 in the previous 51 games, they were the best club in baseball until mid-June. Even when things are tough, the squad has a solid base to remind it of its identity.
“I believe there are several factors at play. I believe it is just the hard effort that everyone puts in, the preparation, and the trust in themselves that will produce the outcomes,” Verdugo concluded. “You can’t truly ride that rollercoaster if you’re struggling, or if you’re doing well. You simply have to trust that you are properly preparing each day. I believe Jazz’s arrival and ability to provide an instant spark for us has also been beneficial. This is the time of year when you have to swallow your pride and do everything it takes to win a game.”
DJ Lemahieu, who had a career-high six RBI in Wednesday’s 6-5 victory, is one Yankee who has the potential to propel the franchise to new heights. According to The New York Post’s Dan Martin, the veteran infielder is hitting just.182 on the season but believes he’s “onto something” following his highlight-filled day.
“It’s been a tough go for me,” LeMahieu admitted. “Today definitely felt good.”
When players other than the “big guys” hit consistently for New York, the squad becomes difficult to beat.
