When the Yankees acquired Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for several pitchers, it was seen as a temporary solution. With promising player Jasson Dominguez sidelined by Tommy John surgery, Verdugo was brought in to fill a crucial gap in left field, a position that has been troublesome for the Yankees in recent years.

Despite being an above-average hitter in four of his last five seasons, Verdugo has struggled this year. Over 94 games, he has posted a batting average of .235, an on-base percentage of .292, and a slugging percentage of .378, with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. These numbers represent the lowest batting average and on-base percentage of his career since his MLB debut in 2017. Additionally, his slugging percentage has dropped significantly, and his weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 90 indicates he is performing 10% below the MLB average.

Verdugo ranks in the 27th percentile for barrel rate and the 28th percentile for hard-hit percentage, though he maintains strong metrics in chase rate, whiff rate, and strikeout rate. Despite these strengths, his overall inconsistency has made him one of the Yankees’ more problematic offensive players.

Since the beginning of June, Verdugo’s struggles have worsened, with a batting average of just .208, an OBP of .255, and a 61 wRC+. During this period, he has been particularly vulnerable, which is concerning given his prominent role in the lineup. Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently referred to Verdugo as merely a “space filler” while the Yankees wait for their top outfield prospect to recover from a lat injury.