4 Yankees Who Will Exceed Expectations In 2024

2. Anthony Rizzo

Next we’ve got Anthony Rizzo, who was expected to be a crucial piece of the Yanks' roster after coming over from Chicago.

Rizzo's breakout for the 2024 season is important due to the setback suffered last year. He was batting .304 with 11 home runs in 204 at-bats, but the turning point occurred on May 28th in a game against the San Diego Padres. He collided with Fernando Tatis while attempting a pickoff play, leading to a concussion that seemed to really impact his play.

In the aftermath of the collision, Rizzo's production fell significantly, especially his batting average. From the injury through August 3rd, when he was officially placed on the injured list, Rizzo managed a batting average of .172 with just one home run in 169 at-bats. The expectation is that a fully rehabilitated Rizzo will re-emerge as a highly valuable asset to the team's roster for the remainder of the current year. 

3. Anthony Volpe

Ranked third on our list is ‘The Kid’, Anthony Volpe. Although Anthony Volpe’s success rode on the second half of his rookie year, he is expected to push through the infamous sophomore slump season.

In 2023, Volpe defied expectations and became the second Yankees Gold Glove winner since Derek Jeter. He made his mark in Yankees history after a challenging start over his first few months had left fans skeptical that he was ready for the big leagues.

The upcoming season has Volpe facing high expectations.

Fans are hopeful that he will overcome some of the issues he faced, such as his strikeout number reaching 167, the 17th most by an MLB player. Here's to a great season with the hope that his outstanding performance extends beyond the need for additional chicken parmesan dinners to fuel his success.