Alex Verdugo has officially won over Keith: 'Dare I say I love this guy'

Alex Verdugo made a sparkling running catch at the wall in left field on Wednesday, much to Carlos Rodon’s delight, and to the delight of Keith, who is grateful every night to have a true left fielder after last year’s Yankee nightmare.

“Man, Verdugo. It’s good to have a guy in left field,” Keith said. “I don’t know what the future holds, and I don’t care. I’m enjoying this guy right now.

“Dare I say I love this guy, and I did not like him at all with the grills, the tattoos, the number 99 and navy blue Red Sox jersey turning around and getting into it with the fans in left field.”

Keith was critical of Verdugo when he was first traded to the Yanks this past offseason, but his defense in left field has been a drastic improvement over the likes of Jake Bauers, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Willie Calhoun, and the revolving door of other unprepared players that patrolled left field in pinstripes last year. It also helps that Verdugo is swinging a bat that is putting up numbers above league average, giving a dangerous lineup even more length while striking out at a miniscule rate.

Listen to Keith’s full thoughts on Verdugo and the latest Yankee win via the clip above.