The Yankees haven’t just shown a willingness to go to their bullpen quickly in the postseason, they also haven’t hesitated to pull Miguel Andujar for defensive purposes when they’re ahead in a game.
In the wild-card victory over the A’s last week, Aaron Boone went to Adeiny Hechavarria after just five innings.
And in the ALDS against the Red Sox, Andujar played all nine innings at Fenway Park in Game 1, as the Yankees tried to overcome an early five-run deficit that fell a run short. But in their Game 2 victory, when they jumped to a lead, Boone again went to Hechavarria at third, this time in the bottom of the sixth.
Both times Hechavarria was called on, he made fine plays at third base, and Boone said before Monday’s Game 3 against the Red Sox in The Bronx that the presence of Neil Walker allowed them to employ a similar strategy.
Walker, in addition to being a potential defensive replacement for Luke Voit at first base, also provides a left-handed pinch hitter for Hechavarria if they needed him late in a game.
“With the way the roster is set up right now, to be able to throw a premium defender on the field with [Walker] behind him if we had a situation [where] we needed to hit,’’ Boone said before Game 3. “I feel like it is more how we are more set up now, where [Walker] gives us that flexibility to be more aggressive with that.”
The Yankees traded for Hechavarria on Aug. 31 from the Pirates, seemingly as insurance in case Didi Gregorius wasn’t able to come back from his bruised left heel quickly. But general manager Brian Cashman said at the time that he also considered Hechavarria “a defensive wizard” who could be used as a defensive replacement.
The Yankees did it occasionally down the stretch, but Hechavarria still spent just 22 games at third in his career before this postseason.
“I have a lot of confidence, but that said, it’s not something he has done a ton,’’ Boone said of Hechavarria’s defense at third. “I feel he is such a good defender and his ability to play short allows him to transition and be on the same side of the field. There are little subtleties about the position that could come up, but overall I feel good about him and just having another premium defender on the field.’’
