The New York Yankees used Isiah Kiner-Falefa as their shortstop starter in 2022.
The experiment was not productive: while the numbers say he rated positively as a fielder, he slashed a poor .261/.314/.327 with just four home runs and a pitiful .642 OPS last year.
As a result, the Yankees made the shortstop position up for grabs during spring training, and barring any surprises, one of Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe will win it.
The former is much more likely, but it would be in good hands either way.
As for Kiner-Falefa, you can take a look by yourself if you want to see what the team is planning with him.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa in center field: pic.twitter.com/ZrisEy1Ur5
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 14, 2023
No, IKF won’t be the everyday starter in center field while Harrison Bader (oblique) gets healthy, but if everything goes according to the organization’s plan, he will make a start or two there.
“Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been working in the outfield with Nick Swisher. Aaron Boone plans to start IKF in center field later this week as he transitions into a utility role,” insider Bryan Hoch confirmed.
Yes: Kiner-Falefa will be the Yankees’ Swiss-army knife, the utilityman.
He is capable of being passable at catcher, average at short, and very good at third base.
The Yanks are trying to expand his range to see if he can also act as the emergency center fielder.
For now, Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks will likely replace Bader in center until he returns in a few weeks.
Having Kiner-Falefa, however, could give the team some peace of mind and extra depth.
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