The New York Yankees are off to one of their best starts in franchise history and have the early look of a World Series contender—once again.
“I’m pleased with how the group is competing, how they’ve come together,” manager Aaron Boone said after a 3–2 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday. “We’ve got to keep that same focus going.”
New York is a major league-best 10–2 and is tied with the best start in franchise history with the teams in 1922, 1949, and 2003. All of those squads won an American League pennant.
The Yankees also started with four straight one shy of the club record set in 1926.
New York has been energized by outfielder Alex Verdugo, who hit his home run at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Verdugo hit his second homer with the Yankees one night after getting three hits and reaching base four times.
Mr. Verdugo, whose father Joe is from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was acquired from the archrival Red Sox for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert, and Nicholas Judice on Dec. 5, 2023.
“Even through the first 10 days, whatever it was, there were a couple of good at-bats in there to where I felt like my swing was clicking. I was just mishitting the ball,” Mr. Verdugo said after beating the Marlins. “I’ve always been a guy that makes contact and sometimes it’s a little bit tough because I make weak contact if I’m not going right. I think the biggest thing was just trusting the process, trusting that I can let the ball travel. We are starting to see some results now and a lot better swings.”
The Yankees entered the season as the favorite to win the deep and competitive American League East just ahead of the Orioles, who won 101 games last season and advanced to the AL Divisional Series.
Despite finishing in fourth place and missing the playoffs last season, expectations are high for the Yankees to bounce back.
Additionally, Juan Soto was acquired from the Padres this offseason. Over 16 games in spring training have created excitement over the spring. Mr. Soto is already making an impact in the lineup and he’s expected to help carry the Yankees to the postseason.
Mr. Soto is batting second ahead of fellow MVP candidate Aaron Judge. That duo gives the Yankees one of the best 1-2 punches in all of MLB. Mr. Soto blasted his first home run as a Yankee on April 8 and expects to hit many more.
Mr. Soto also feels right at home in the pinstripes and playing at Yankee Stadium.
“I would call it family,” Mr. Soto said after the game. “We all feel like family right now. It’s only been 11 games, and we already feel like we are sticking together. We’re pushing together. We all want the same thing.”
Mr. Soto is also endearing himself to his teammates, who are feeding off his energy. The Yankees are flying high, but there is plenty of baseball to play and the Orioles just called up MLB’s No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday, who is expected to give them a boost.
“He’s incredible, everything he does,” Anthony Volpe said about Mr. Soto. “The way he carries himself on the field, the way the fans embrace him and the way he embraces the fans. I think the coolest part is what he does here in the clubhouse. He brings the energy. We’re obviously all looking toward him to see what he’s doing. He leads by example.”
The Yankees also have the pitching to help carry the team this season if the bats slow down. The team has a solid rotation that consists of left-hander Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes, and the injured Gerrit Cole, who was last year’s Cy Young Award winner and a six-time All-Star.
Mr. Cole is on the injured list and is recovering from nerve inflammation in his right elbow. He is not expected to be back in the rotation until late May at the earliest. The Yankees will take their time with the ace of the staff to ensure that he is ready to pitch effectively in August and September when the team is pushing for a playoff spot.
Mr. Boone fully understands the expectations that comes with managing or playing for the Yankees. The fans expect the team to compete for a World Series every year. The Yankees are the most storied franchise in MLB and Mr. Boone knows it is an honor to wear the uniform every day.
The manager is also not backing down from expectations and the Yankees are primed to be competitive throughout the 2024 season.
“We understand very well that last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants or demands or expects,” Mr. Boone said during spring training. “And I would say we have poured into that from ownership to the front office to the coaches and staff all the way to the players, that I do feel we have prepared properly. We are ready to roll. But again, we got to show you.”
