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#What Yankees’ Miguel Andujar is doing to improve his defense

#What Yankees’ Miguel Andujar is doing to improve his defense

July 10, 2020 | 3:08am

When Miguel Andujar committed 15 errors in 2018, outsiders looked at the total and wondered if the Yankees could live with that many boots, even if he hit well enough to finish second in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

Following the season, the Yankees were more concerned about improving Andujar’s footwork — so he would be in better position to field balls — than they were his error total. A winter of work vanished because Andujar was limited to a dozen games last year due to right shoulder surgery.

More footwork drills followed during this past offseason and in the first spring training, before the coronavirus shut down baseball. However, that didn’t stop Andujar from working out at George M. Steinbrenner Field during quarantine.

According to Carlos Mendoza, the Yankees’ bench coach and infield mentor, the time Miguel Andujar spent in Tampa while the game was stopped helped his fielding.

“The footwork is a lot better and the throwing, coming from an injury, is so much better as well,’’ Mendoza said on a Zoom call before Thursday night’s intrasquad game at Yankee Stadium.

Miguel Andujar
Miguel AndujarRobert Sabo

Andujar started in right field to further his development as a player who can offer versatility. He lost Giancarlo Stanton’s first-inning fly ball in the sun/lights when he came in for it.

“It is about getting live reps and continuing with the work, his confidence and staying aggressive at third base,” Mendoza said. “In 2018, his fielding position was really, really low and he was kind of on his heels. So we kind of put him in a better position incorporating a small hop when the ball is entering the hitting zone. That way will allow him to have a better first step and better reads, hopefully, off the bat.’’

Had Gio Urshela not taken over at third for Andujar last year and turned in an All-Star-worthy year, Andujar would have rejoined the Yankees as the everyday third baseman. However, the best way to get Andujar’s bat in the lineup now is by moving him around. Before Thursday’s intrasquad game he took ground balls and throws at first base.

With rain expected Friday the Yankees canceled their intrasquad game. James Paxton will throw and a few players who require treatment will be at Yankee Stadium but there won’t be a full-blown workout.


Gleyber Torres’ five errors in 10 spring training games before the coronavirus shut down the game was alarming to some, since the Yankees allowed the slick-fielding Didi Gregorius to leave via free agency and make Torres the regular shortstop.

The errors didn’t alarm GM Brian Cashman, and Mendoza didn’t make a big deal of it while it was going on.

“We didn’t want to put too much into it. Obviously he made a few errors, we saw it. We were happy with the pregame work he was putting into it,’’ said the Yankees’ bench coach, who worked with Torres moving toward second base Thursday afternoon. “The biggest thing was staying aggressive and staying positive with him, we didn’t want to make too much out of it. What we have seen so far, and when we got shut down, he is putting in the work. We are happy and confident that he is going to be fine.’’

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