Initial Annoyance Gives Way to Excitement
Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo recently made the move to the New York Yankees in a trade that initially left him feeling frustrated. Verdugo expressed his disappointment, stating, “The genuine reaction was mad. I was hot. I was just like, ‘Man, they really sent me to the rivals? The Yankees?'” However, as Verdugo began to reflect on his time with the Red Sox and received warm welcomes from his new teammates, his perspective quickly shifted.
Welcomed with Open Arms
Despite the historical rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees, Verdugo found himself embraced by his new team. Players such as Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, and Anthony Rizzo reached out to him, making him feel right at home. Verdugo shared, “Then, after about a day, I just started sitting back, started thinking, reminiscing about how this year went with the Red Sox, everything that was going on, then I started having guys reach out… It got me excited, man.”
Adjusting to the Yankees Culture
Verdugo wasted no time in immersing himself in the Yankees’ culture. He adhered to the team’s facial-hair policy immediately, wanting to feel like part of the team. He also proudly wears a Yankees hat during his daily workouts. “Fresh start, it feels good,” Verdugo remarked.
On-Field Performance
As the outfielder adjusts to his new team, Yankees fans are eager to see how he will perform on the field. In his career, Verdugo has a .252/.299/.437 slash line at Yankee Stadium, with five homers, seven doubles, and 12 RBI over 31 games. Last season, with the Red Sox, he had a .264/.324/.421 line in 142 games. Overall, Verdugo has a .281/.337/.428 hitting average with 152 doubles, 57 homers, and 255 RBI in 651 games.
A New Chapter for Verdugo
Joining a team with established players like Aaron Judge and Soto, Verdugo is looking forward to this fresh start with the Yankees. Trent Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, will also be a valuable addition to the outfield. With the support of his new teammates and the opportunity for a new beginning, Verdugo is excited for what lies ahead.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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