A lot has changed in the past three years for Miguel Andujar.
Heading into the 2019 season, Andujar was hoping to shore up his defense at third base and build off of a rookie year that saw him rip 47 doubles and 27 home runs. Now, having just begun spring training, Andujar is hoping to just be a part of the Opening Day roster.
“When I get an opportunity to get in the game, I have to be ready to play,” Andujar said on a Zoom call with reporters through his interpreter on Tuesday. “That’s the way I see it.”
Andujar, who is currently 1-for-5 this spring, lost his 2019 season to shoulder surgery and hasn’t been able to find his way back in the lineup with the rise of Gio Urshela, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit taking up the infield. Andujar was a likely candidate to be moved to the outfield anyways due to his defensive struggles, but with Clint Frazier seen as the starting left fielder in 2021 and Brett Gardner returning for a 14th season, playing time may be hard to come by.
Regardless, Andujar has been trying to stay ready for his chance, working at multiple positions during the offseason to make himself available for any opportunity.
“I had the opportunity to play winter ball in the [Dominican Republic] and played in the outfield, played at third base, working those positions, and just continuing to work as always,” Andujar said. “I would say about the same amount of work in the outfield and the infield. For me it’s just to be ready to play ball and give my best every time I’m out there in the game.”
Whether Andujar can rediscover his 2018 production is a major question, as is his outlook of getting a chance to show he can at all. The Yankees added outfielder Jay Bruce and infielder Derek Dietrich over the offseason, and both have been getting looks so far in the early stages of spring training. But Andujar is trying to keep the focus on his own improvements and get back to what made him a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2018.
“That’s great we added those players, and it’s great for the Yankees to add players with experience like that,” Andujar said. “But like I said, I don’t control any of that stuff. For me, it’s to play baseball at the level that I’m used to and give the best I have.”
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