Isiah Kiner-Falefa mentioned taking part in for the Yankees is “one thing I’ve all the time dreamed of,” and that sentiment didn’t change after his first two video games because the staff’s beginning shortstop, regardless of going hitless and making an error.
“I’ve simply bought to sluggish issues down slightly bit,’’ Kiner-Falefa mentioned earlier than the Yankees performed the ultimate recreation of their season-opening collection in opposition to the Purple Sox.
Among the many changes Kiner-Falefa, a lifelong Yankees fan, mentioned he’s needed to make is changing into adjusted to the sector at Yankee Stadium after taking part in on synthetic turf with the Rangers at Globe Life Subject a yr in the past.
Kiner-Falefa had began simply 15 video games at brief previous to final yr, however he was the on a regular basis shortstop for the Rangers in 2021, taking part in 156 video games there.
He fumbled a grounder on Opening Day and made a throwing error within the prime of the ninth on Saturday that allowed the Purple Sox to deliver the tying runner to the plate earlier than Aroldis Chapman completed the save.
“I’m comfy at brief, particularly after simply taking part in there all of final yr and this spring,’’ mentioned Kiner-Faelfa, who performed second base, third and catcher in his first few years within the majors. “I ought to be capable of make the performs I’ve not made thus far. It’s nearly adjusting to the sector and to those environment.”
As for going 0-for-8 with a pair of strikeouts within the early going, Aaron Boone mentioned Kiner-Falefa had largely hit into dangerous luck.
“Offensively, he’s hit some balls fairly arduous,’’ Boone mentioned earlier than the Yankees-Purple Sox finale on Sunday, when he batted Kiner-Falefa eighth within the lineup. “He simply hasn’t had something to point out for it.”
Kiner-Falefa was pretty strong defensively all through spring coaching and hit properly, going 13-for-33 in 11 Grapefruit League video games after arriving within the offseason in a commerce that additionally introduced Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt from the Twins, in trade for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.
An AL scout who noticed Kiner-Falefa in the course of the spring mentioned, “He appeared positive at brief, which is what they’re on the lookout for, I believe. They didn’t count on him to be good on the market or to be in the midst of the lineup. They bought him to be strong on the market and be a sensible participant, which he's. He’ll look higher the longer you watch him.”
The success on the plate, although, has by no means translated into the common season, as he entered the yr with a .667 OPS for his profession.
And the concentration is going to stay on Kiner-Falefa, partly due to the Yankees’ resolution to take a seat out the free-agent shortstop market — together with seeing Carlos Correa go to the Twins on a three-year deal that has an opt-out after this season.
As Boone identified once more Sunday, the Yankees like Kiner-Falefa’s “bat-to-ball” abilities and if the opening collection has been any indication- with 5 homers of their first two video games — they need to be capable of get loads of offense elsewhere within the lineup.
“He made the error on the throw on the run, however I like the place he’s at from a mindset [standpoint],’’ Boone mentioned. “He’s aggressive, he’s attacking each side of the ball. … He’ll be positive.”
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