"I think he's gonna hit... That's what I'm counting on" - Yankees' Aaron Boone says he trusts Alex Verdugo to remain as team's clean-up hitter
It has been a roller-coaster season for veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo. After being acquired by the New York Yankees from the Boston Red Sox this offseason, Verdugo quickly emerged as a fan-favorite among the team's passionate supporters.
As the league heads into the second half of the season, the narrative around Verdugo has quickly changed. After winning over fans at the beginning of the year and thriving in the clean-up spot for the club, some have begun to question if a change needs to be made. That being said, Yankees manager Aaron Boone does not share this sentiment.
The veteran manager spoke to the media before the team's matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. One of the questions Boone addressed was Verdugo's standing as the team's clean-up hitter.
"I think he's gonna hit. He's gonna hit like Alex Verdugo moving forward. That's what I'm counting on," Boone told reporters.
While he expressed confidence in Verdugo's ability to bounce back in the second half of the year, he did mention that other players could step up in his place.
Although Boone says he stands by Verdugo, the outfielder will need to perform sooner rather than later if he wants to continue as the team's clean-up hitter. A number of players, including Austin Wells, could be fighting for that spot in the lineup.
Alex Verdugo has admitted that something feels off during this current slump
While Verdugo proved early in the year that he was capable of handling a high-pressure spot in the Yankees lineup, his current struggles have put doubt on his ability moving forward. The outfielder has acknowledged that things have not been going according to plan.
In an interview with The Athletic last Saturday, Verdugo said that while some of the issues for his slump might be on the mental aspect of the game, he has noticed some physical things that have not been up to sniff.
"The swing isn’t really where I want it to be," he said.
While Verdugo could turn things around, if he does not, it could impact how the Yankees approach the MLB Trade Deadline.