Update: 2019 Yankees and Too Many Damn Right-Handed Batters?

We wrote this article back in the beginning of the offseason, but a lot has changed between then and now. The Yankees have added even MORE right-handed hitting to the club. Does it matter? And do the New York Yankees have “too many damn right-handed batters” in their lineup? The fans say one thing, but the stats may say another.

Gary Sanchez:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	256	844	751	120	193	36	0	51	131	72	200	.257	.331	.509	.839
	vs LHP	123	286	246	44	58	13	0	20	54	38	72	.236	.339	.533	.872

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Gary Sanchez actually hits right-handed pitching better than he does left-handed pitching. By a lot actually.



Luke Voit:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	88	199	176	30	49	11	0	10	33	20	53	.278	.362	.511	.873
	vs LHP	43	86	81	18	25	3	0	9	21	4	21	.309	.349	.679	1.028

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Luke, albeit in a small sample size, is better against left-handed pitching, but he has definitely held his own against right-handed pitching as well.

Greg Bird:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	169	509	448	51	92	27	1	23	69	50	134	.205	.291	.424	.715
	vs LHP	82	150	128	18	31	5	0	8	28	18	39	.242	.340	.469	.809

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Greg Bird has some interesting splits... he seemingly hits better against left-handed pitching better than he does against right-handed pitching, but again... in a smaller sample size. I included Bird because he could win the starting first base job out of spring over Voit, giving the Yankees one less right-handed bat to worry about.

Gleyber Torres:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	120	350	313	37	87	13	0	13	51	28	83	.278	.341	.444	.785
	vs LHP	65	134	118	17	30	3	1	11	26	14	39	.254	.336	.576	.912

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Gleyber Day happens a lot more frequently against right-handed pitching than left-handed pitching, even as a right-handed batter.

DJ LeMahieu:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	855	2753	2504	350	731	112	20	32	243	191	434	.292	.343	.391	.734
	vs LHP	450	1046	941	151	295	51	11	17	106	87	143	.313	.369	.445	.814

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

LeMahieu not only handles righties as well as he does lefties, but he also has power to the opposite field and can take full advantage of the short porch inside Yankee Stadium as a right-handed hitting second baseman.


Didi Gregorius:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	716	2218	2027	281	547	101	14	81	269	140	303	.270	.320	.453	.773
	vs LHP	418	820	745	89	192	30	3	13	87	44	125	.258	.311	.358	.669

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Didi handles right-handed pitching well and should be back by late-July or early August, and that may be on the conservative side. He is already throwing and could be hitting soon, if he's not already. Didi is left-handed, so that only helps the "too many right-handed bats" when he returns. 

Troy Tulowitzki:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	1215	4009	3582	562	1017	190	19	162	579	350	696	.284	.351	.483	.834
	vs LHP	609	1393	1211	199	372	73	5	62	200	159	200	.307	.389	.529	.919

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Troy does better against left-handed pitching, but has held his own throughout his career against right-handed pitching as well. Just make it through spring healthy... then we'll talk.


Miguel Andujar:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	143	438	418	63	130	33	1	20	72	15	68	.311	.338	.538	.876
	vs LHP	83	176	162	20	44	16	1	7	24	11	29	.272	.318	.512	.831

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Miguel Andujar kills everyone, but it is especially helpful when you can kill same-side pitching like Miguel does.

Aaron Judge:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	284	955	800	172	228	37	2	67	163	138	301	.285	.391	.588	.978
	vs LHP	142	316	239	43	56	11	1	16	28	74	101	.234	.421	.490	.910

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

MY right fielder.


Brett Gardner:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	1191	3934	3425	604	906	153	46	79	331	414	698	.265	.348	.405	.754
	vs LHP	751	1511	1304	186	326	51	15	17	119	147	304	.250	.333	.351	.684

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Gardner will likely get a lot of reps in left field this season, so it helps that is a left-handed bat that can handle both sides of pitching almost equally as well. Gardner does better against right-handed pitching, which both makes sense and helps the club as a whole.

Aaron Hicks:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	524	1551	1329	197	307	51	9	43	159	190	306	.231	.328	.380	.708
	vs LHP	313	680	598	86	147	28	1	27	81	75	146	.246	.329	.431	.761

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Switch hitter and the Yankees new $70 million man. It is what it is since he bats from both sides of the plate.


Giancarlo Stanton:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	1085	3694	3225	502	837	166	7	223	572	407	1086	.260	.347	.523	.870
	vs LHP	488	1122	960	175	285	70	4	82	200	150	263	.297	.393	.634	1.027

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

So, in closing, the New York Yankees will be fine with all their right-handed bats. Would a bat like Bryce Harper have helped the Yankees? Sure, but not solely because he is left-handed. Harper gets on base, hits for power, AND hits right-handed hitting (seen below for fun). Without Harper, though, the Yankees should be just fine here in 2019. Relax, breathe, and remember that it’s still only February.

Bryce Harper Career Splits:

I	Split	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
	vs RHP	852	2782	2304	461	663	122	12	147	369	436	551	.288	.402	.543	.944
	vs LHP	587	1175	1002	149	259	61	6	37	152	149	283	.258	.354	.442	.796

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Bryce Harper KILLS right-handed pitching and would have fit PERFECTLY in with the Yankees. Oh, what could have been.





*All stats are courtesy of Baseball Reference, and all stats reference CAREER stats.