A Shortened 2020 Season Is Beneficial for These Yankees

Although the 2020 New York Yankee roster is built to win a World Series title, there are opinion differences amongst the MLB community on how much a title win would mean if 60 percent fewer games are played. Whether you believe it makes no difference or means absolutely nothing, there will always be something different about the 2020 season. That is one big negative about the Yankee season.

Whether there are 60, 70 or no games played this season, the Yankees will still find ways to benefit from the shortened season. Injuries plagued the team during the 2019 season and many fans were eager to see if they could have fewer players hurt this season. This is where the positives come into play. None of these players are missing any time because of canceled games.

Aaron Hicks is recovering from Tommy John Surgery and is showing significant progress in his rehab and could be ready for the start of the shortened season.

Luis Severino will miss the entirety of the 2020 season after being the second Yankee this off-season to take Tommy John Surgery and is coming up on four months since his surgery on Feb. 27. Severino said in his latest update on June 1 that he should be ready to begin throwing soon.

Miguel Andujar will be returning to the lineup this season after missing nearly most of 2019 with a labrum tear, which eventually required season-ending surgery. No games required him to get some extended rest from playing every day.

One player that is benefitting from no games being played, but is not making significant progress in rehab is Aaron Judge. Hitting coach Marcus Thames said that Judge was not yet cleared to swing the bat, which was reported towards the end of May. Nearly three weeks later, there is no further update on Judge’s status.

Some players will not benefit because of previous injuries, but because they will not have to endure a long season that they are not used to yet.

Gio Urshela had never played in more than 81 games before the 2019 season but ended up playing in 132 games due to Andujar’s injury. Although he is 28 years old and has played in plenty of minor league games, he has never had to be as relied on as he was in New York.

Mike Tauchman will also get his share of reps in the outfield this season if Judge is not ready to return once play resumes (which does not look too convincing). Just like Urshela, Tauchman has seen plenty of long seasons in the minors but has never experienced this in the Majors.

Domingo German will also benefit from the shortened season since he will not miss any time due to his suspension for domestic violence. German would have been eligible to return to the Yankees on June 5 but will be able to return straight to action once the season begins.

Many Yankees will have the benefit of extended rest for the season. Some players have more injury scares and some are still adjusting to long seasons. All the Yankees will benefit from more time away from the field. After all, the injuries are being kept to a minimum since the Yankees haven’t been able to play games.

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