The Yankees stole him from Cleveland in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the minors' version. After bouncing around single A last year, something clicked. This year, Durango has shot through three levels of the Yankee system, hitting a combined .338 with an OPS of .807.
That's not why this guy is so interesting.
Unlike other Yank farmhands, who live for the Three True Outcomes - HR, K, W - Durango models himself after Ichiro, Charlie Lau and Wee Willie Keeler, whisking the ball into spaces the defense cannot guard. He's a slap hitter, a banjo hitter, somebody who actually puts the ball into play. A reverse Joey Gallo. What a concept!
Here's a refreshing note: Durango has no HRs this year, not one. He has fanned only 30 times in 221 at-bats - (Spencer Jones has 61 in 146) - and he has stolen 43 bases.
Obviously, Durango...
a) Has a long way to go to prove himself in the majors.
b) Is still just a small sample size.
c) Is a tad old for Double A.
d) Will never play for the Yankees; some team that values base runners will take him off our hands.
Still, imagine: A Yankee hitter who doesn't swing out of his helmet.
Pinch me.
Imagine there's no CashBrain
ReplyDeleteIt's easy if you try
No HAL below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people livin' for an opposite field base hit that advances the runners.
oo oo oo
DeleteYou may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday Hal will leave us
And Cash and Boone will also run
This is a player after my own heart.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we can't have a center fielder who doesn't hit home runs. Why, the audacity. The scandal. The sheer pre-Ruthian-ness of it.
ReplyDelete