“Big boppers” and “flamer throwers” come in all shapes and sizes, these players are not always the best players on the team, however they could be the most impactful and important pieces of the puzzle. I believe that consistency & overall talent is more important than being a one dimensional hitter or pitcher that is more self driven than team motivated. I am gonna take a look at two Yankees players that I feel will be one of the reasons the Yankees finally get over that playoff drought and finally make it to the World Series after over a decade.

Last season and every season pretty much since Aaron Judge has been a Yankee he’s been the player the team would consider their best player and his teammates would look to him to “carry them on his shoulders.” Its not great to have that much pressure on oneself. I am not calling Aaron Judge one dimensional like I said I was going to call on someone I feel is the most impactful hitter, Judge I love you as a Captain you’re great in interviews and handle the media very well, you are also a heck of hitter and a good fielder for a big man. I am not picking Judge to be “my choice” for the most impactful bat on the team this year, I am going with newly acquired right fielder Juan Soto…

We all know Juan Soto is a superstar and a generational talent and probably one of the best overall players in the game today. Soto raked in Spring Training and showed fans why the Yankees need him and not just for this season, Juan Soto hit .304 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI, he walked 5 times, and put up a very impressive 1.003 OPS. Soto is an on base machine. Juan Soto is hitting in the two spot, a spot manager Aaron Boone used Judge over the past couple seasons, Judge now hitting behind Soto will likely produce lots of RBI with Soto’s ability to get on base and hit extra base hits. Juan Soto is going to hit his fare share of dingers and drive in runs too. Juan Soto played in all 162 games last season with San Diego and hit 35 home runs and 109 RBI, Soto had an insane amount of plate appearances 708, with 156 hits, and he led the league in walks with 132. Yes walks and plate appearances are not what this topic is about , but its extremely impressive. Fans have to like the idea of this slugger playing half the games in the Bronx with the short porch much in play for the talented lefty. Can we guarantee he plays all 162 games again? No, but we can definitely hope and should assume he will produce immensely well. We should see a .300 hitter with 40+HRs, 110-120 RBI also scoring over 100 runs easily. Picking an “impactful bat” other than Aaron Judge for a lot of people seems preposterous, but I’m going on a limb here and “assuming” Judge gets hit with injuries again, not that I am hoping for this, but it happens. This is the main reason I think Juan Soto is the biggest “impactful bat” on the Yankees this season, and how can you not like a lefty in Yankee Stadium.

Ian Hamilton a relief pitcher for most impactful arm? You guys will probably think I am crazy, but … first off I will say, I think and believe Hamilton takes over the closers role real soon. Ian Hamilton had a great Spring Training striking out 13 batters over 8 innings of work, he only gave up one hit and 2 walks over that span. 2023 was a good season for Ian Hamilton with NY, Hamilton collected 5 holds while saving 2 games with 69K in 58 innings of relief work. It is a very small sample size to go off of for 2024 so far, but Hamilton has 7K in 5IP with 2 holds thus far, only allowing 1 hit and no walks, Hamilton supports a minuscule 0.176 WHIP, while current Yankees closer Clay Holmes has 3 saves this season already he allows too many baserunners Holmes has allowed 6 hits already in just 4.1 innings of work, he also only has 1 strikeout to date in 4.1IP. Is it written is stone, Hamilton is going to take the closers job from Holmes “no” but I feel Hamilton is a more “impactful arm.” I am also gonna predict Hamilton is a top 10 reliever by season’s end.

Hope you all enjoyed today’s article, leave a comment in the section below or hit me up on ‘X’ @HENDO19750 or message me on Facebook if you want to chat.

Photo Credits; NJ.com, New York Post,

By : Rob Henderson