Yankees’ Bold Leadoff Move Sparks Early Success Against Brewers

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Yankees‘ decision to have Paul Goldschmidt hit leadoff on Saturday yielded immediate results as they faced left-hander Nestor Cortes in their first series game against the Milwaukee Brewers. In a surprising move for the 37-year-old first baseman, manager Aaron Boone completely overhauled the lineup, marking Goldschmidt’s first career appearance in the leadoff spot.

Goldschmidt made an impactful statement, hitting a Homer to left field right out of the gate, followed by Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge also connecting for homers, resulting in three consecutive long balls to start the game. This lively beginning showcased the Yankees’ offensive potential against left-handed pitchers.

Prior to this game, Goldschmidt had briefly hit leadoff during a Grapefruit League matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, but Boone had remained uncertain about adopting the strategy for the regular season. After Saturday’s performance, it appears that this approach might be more than just an experiment.

“Not necessarily,” Boone noted before the game when asked if Goldschmidt would always lead off against left-handed pitchers. “Kinda depends. This is a little unique in who we’re facing and how they’re aligned and everything. … I mean, we could look up in a month or two and somebody else has kind of emerged to become the more natural leadoff spot, but we’ll see.”

Catcher Austin Wells, another left-handed batter, also made his mark against the Brewers by launching a home run in his first at-bat. Boone faced a decision on who to place in the leadoff spot, considering both shortstop Anthony Volpe and Goldschmidt. Ultimately, he decided on Goldschmidt, even with Volpe having a substantial leadoff history from last season, where he started 76 games in that position.

Boone had given Goldschmidt a heads-up regarding the leadoff assignment the night before the game. Volpe is now positioned fifth in the batting order, while Wells will hit sixth. Additionally, Pablo Reyes earned the start at third base, batting seventh despite starting the spring as a non-roster invitee, while Oswald Peraza is benched.

Oswaldo Cabrera, third baseman, and designated hitter Ben Rice, both of whom bat left-handed, will also sit out. In their absence, switch-hitter Jasson Domínguez will serve as the designated hitter batting eighth, with lefty Trent Grisham rounding out the order in the ninth spot, starting at center field.

“He’s fired up for it and ready to go,” Boone commented about Goldschmidt’s leadoff experience. With the Yankees’ season still early, the evolving batting order may be subject to future changes as they assess player performances and matchups.