New York Yankees: Five Yankees that have exceeded expectations
By TJ Wengert
The New York Yankees are tops in the AL East, and it’s in due part to some unexpected players. Take a look at the top five players that have stepped up in 2017.
The New York Yankees sit atop of the American League East with a 38-25 record. They’re two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, a team many people picked to go to the World Series, and five and a half games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees’ record puts them at second in the American League, only trailing the Houston Astros by five games. Their record also gives them the sixth best record in the majors. Although they don’t hold the best record, the Yankees do have the best run differential in the bigs, one of the most important stats in baseball.
The Yankees hot start is about a year or two ahead of schedule, as future starters such as; Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier, Bryce Rutherford and Justus Sheffield are still developing in the minors.
Everyone around the game of baseball sees and recognizes the potential dynasty that Brain Cashman is building through the farm system. But with that said, very few thought the Yankees were playoff contenders this season, and if they did make the playoffs, it would be as a playoff team.
The key to the Yankees surprise success this year, just like any other surprise team, is getting more production out of players than what was expected from them.
Today I will be examining five players, and based on ESPN preseason projections, show how they have played above and beyond their expectations. Which in turn has helped put the Yankees into playoff, and possibly even world series contention.