Mike Tauchman. Gio Urshela. Cameron Maybin. Who would have thought that these players would help the Yankees to a ten-game lead in the AL East, the best record in the American League and the second-best record in all of the MLB?
Lineups like is 2013.
Results like it’s 2009.Welcome to 2019 Yankees baseball.
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) August 9, 2019
The Yankees have had a slew of injuries, taking out some of their key players throughout the season. Aaron Judge hit the Injured List for a bit. Giancarlo Stanton has only played nine games this season. Miguel Andújar is out for the season. Gary Sanchez is currently on the Injured List (although he is set to return soon), and Luke Voit, Edwin Encarnacion, and Aaron Hicks just hit the Injured List.
Players like Tauchman, Urshela, and Maybin have been the next men up. These players were acquired for almost nothing, but they have been everything to the 2019 New York Yankees.
Mike Tauchman was traded to the Yankees from the Colorado Rockies March 23rd for left-handed reliever Phillip Diehl.
The Blue Jays traded Gio Urshela to the Yankees on August 4th, 2018 for cash considerations.
The Yankees gave up cash considerations to the Cleveland Indians for Cameron Maybin on April 25th.
All three of these players were Triple AAA players when they were acquired, and they have been lighting it up this season, especially as of late.
Since June 16th, Mike Tauchman has played 24 games with a .405 average, .457 on-base percentage, and a .770 slugging percentage. Cameron Maybin has played 14 games with a .391 average, a .472 on-base percentage, and a .761 slugging percentage. Gio Urshela has played 34 games with a .330 average, a .364 on-base percentage, and a .626 slugging percentage. In his last 20 at-bats, Tauchman has 11 RBI’s. Urshela is the second third baseman in MLB history to have hit 2+ home runs and have 4+ RBI’s in back to back games. This is even better than what one wants from their depth players.
They have also pulled off some amazing defensive plays.
Including this home-run robbery from Mike Tauchman:
Mike Tauchman, ARE YOU SERIOUS ?
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/msd321ebYd
— ESPN (@espn) August 7, 2019
And it seems Gio Urshela makes a play like this almost every game:
This play is becoming a routine occurrence for Gio Urshela. pic.twitter.com/zVo3mU0wSm
— Marc Malkoskie (@mmalkoskie) July 31, 2019
Maybin brings a great presence to the dugout, as he loves giving hugs to all of his teammates.
wHy Do YoU aLwAyS gIvE hUgS?
Hugs are the mood ?? Hugs are the vibe ?? Hugs are the wave ??pic.twitter.com/ZU9DJequJC
— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) August 7, 2019
Maybin also knows how unstoppable the trio is right now, and he has taken to Twitter to tell all about it.
Me, Gio, & Tauch… Name a better trio, I’ll wait ? https://t.co/gfy1Odnh4E
— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) August 9, 2019
These players were acquired for the Yankees to have some depth, but they have become a very meaningful part of this Yankees team. Tauchman, Maybin, and Urshela have greatly exceeded their expectations, and it has brought the Yankees to a new level. With the many injuries they have sustained so far, the next man up has always produced, and it has felt at times as if there have not been any injuries at all.
The Yankees next man up mentality has brought them to new heights this season, and hopefully, it continues through the rest of the regular season and the postseason.
Featured Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea- USA Today Sports
