TAMPA — Sidelined by a sore back for a few days, Paul Goldschmidt returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Saturday.
The first baseman did so in an unfamiliar role, as Aaron Boone asked Goldschmidt to leadoff against the Phillies and left-hander Jesús Luzardo. While the lefty-swinging Austin Wells has been crushing it as the Yankees’ go-to leadoff man this spring, don’t be surprised if the righty-swinging Goldschmidt gets more chances to bat first against southpaws this coming season.
“I guess the opportunity hadn’t come up till now, so we’ll do it. I don’t think it’ll be too different,” Goldschmidt said before the game. “Every manager I’ve had, I’ve just said I’ll do whatever you guys need me to do. So when [Boone] asked me early in spring, I said, ‘I’ll hit wherever.’”
Asked why he hadn’t hit first until Saturday, Goldschmidt joked, “Maybe because Wells has been hitting .500 it seems like.”
An MVP with the Cardinals in 2022, Goldschmidt is coming off the worst year of his career. However, the new Yankee has a .381 OBP for his career, and Boone has said that getting on is the skill he values most in the leadoff spot.
Even through his struggles last season, Goldschmidt also remained a threat against lefties, posting an .839 OPS against them.
Goldschmidt has primarily hit second, third and fourth throughout his 14-year career. The 37-year-old has never led off as a big leaguer in real games, but that could change soon.
“I’m sure I have,” Goldschmidt said of leading off at any point in his life. “Obviously, it’s been a while. I’m sure before my professional career, maybe in the minors or something, but I’ve led off plenty of innings. It’s just that first at-bat, which sometimes can be a little different, but I’ve hit second plenty and done it, so it’ll be fun.”