3 Yankees players who'll be better in 2023, and 2 who won't

3 Yankees players who’ll be better in 2023, and 2 who won’t

By Tim Boyle | Feb 11, 2023

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on before batting in the second inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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Harrison Bader showed the team what he can do during the 2022 postseason. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Why Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader will be better in 2023

Yankees fans didn’t get the full picture of what Harrison Bader has to offer. He came over at last year’s trade deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals for Jordan Montgomery with plenty of expectations. Bader would go on to hit .217/.245/.283 in his 49 regular-season plate appearances for the Yankees.

We know he should be able to do much better than that. Even if Bader isn’t going to be one of the better center fielders in MLB, he won’t be as bad as he was prior to the postseason.

Finally, fully healthy and in the lineup during the postseason, Bader showed everyone why the Yankees traded for him. He hit 3 home runs in the ALDS and added another pair in the ALCS. He did what so many other Yankees have failed to do in recent years: hit in the playoffs.

Bader has had some struggles in his career so don’t raise the bar too high. A lifetime .245/.317/.405 hitter now in parts of six seasons, it’s his defense that fans may fall in love with most.

Don’t expect Yankee Stadium to be backed with Bader jerseys anytime soon. He’s more of an everyday role-player, unsung hero type. Can he become the franchise’s next Brett Gardner? A much better 2023 season can help get him there.

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