Yankees' Miguel Andujar Expected to Be Fully Healthy for Spring Training
By Brendan Balsamo
After losing out on the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year to two-way player Shohei Ohtani, it looked like 2019 would be New York Yankees' third baseman Miguel Andujar's opportunity to solidify himself as an offensive force in the MLB. However, after tearing his labrum just a few games into the year, he missed the rest of the 2019 season.
It took almost a full year for Andujar to recover, but according to the latest reports, the 24-year-old should be 100% healthy come Spring Training.
Miguel Andujar will be "totally healthy" for Spring Training https://t.co/8p2Nh1KY4y pic.twitter.com/hvpQeNe3wB
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 8, 2020
It won't be a quick shift for Andujar to step back into the lineup, though. Amid the third baseman's injury, Gio Urshela stepped up and rose to the occasion, solidifying himself as a mainstay in the infield in the Bronx.
Urshela slashed .314/.355/.534 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and flashed his glove with frequent web gems. His defense is a particular plus, considering Andujar is a below-average fielder.
Miguel Andújar is throwing and taking ground balls in the Dominican Republic after season-ending right shoulder surgery, Aaron Boone said on @MLBNetworkRadio. “We believe he’s going to be totally healthy as he enters spring training and good to go,” Boone said. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 7, 2020
In Andujar's rookie campaign, he put up similar offensive stats, hitting .297 with 27 home runs and 94 RBI.
If he can come back completely healthy, like he appears to be now, and put up similar numbers to that of his rookie year, he might just steal the job back out of Urshela's grasp.
Miguel Andujar's swing ?
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 16, 2019
(via IG/@ miguelandujar_02) pic.twitter.com/jyiewmO5H2
The battle for the hot corner in the Bronx will certainly be one to monitor as the offseason progresses.