NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: Anthony Volpe #11 (R) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees (L) look on during batting practice prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Volpe is making his MLB debut. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) (Sarah Stier, Getty Images)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa only played two years of high school football, but the Yankees’ super utility man believes that experience can help him now that he’s going to play the outfield.
Kiner-Falefa, who attended Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, said that his limited time as a defensive back has helped him adjust to his newest position in baseball, as he feels the footwork is similar. “IKF” has experience playing shortstop, third base, second base and catcher in the majors, but Sunday marked his first big league start in center field.
“I was a pretty good safety,” Kiner-Falefa said before the game against the Giants. “It’s almost the same feelings out there, just watching the quarterback and what not.”
Kiner-Falefa added that he nabbed “a lot of pick-sixes” before turning his full attention to baseball.
As for the outfield, the veteran shifted his focus this past spring after spending his first season in pinstripes as the Yankees’ shortstop. Kiner-Falefa’s defense at short hurt the team at times, and he ended up getting benched for a few playoff games.
Kiner-Falefa realized that with Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza also competing for the shortstop job in camp – Volpe won the gig – it would behoove him to expand on his versatility.
“I understood there’s two great shortstop prospects that could help the team,” Kiner-Falefa said. “For me, being an older guy, I definitely saw that. So, instead of battling it out, I wanted to give myself an opportunity to stick on the team. I felt like [the Yankees] giving me that opportunity to play the outfield allowed me to still be here.”
Kiner-Falefa added that the decision to play some outfield – he also tried left during spring training – was a mutual one. Aaron Boone came to him first, but the 28-year-old had already been thinking about it.
The idea gained traction after Kiner-Falefa booted a routine ball against the Tigers on March 3 while playing shortstop behind Gerrit Cole. That ended up being his last exhibition game at shortstop.
“That error was kind of a blessing in disguise in a way,” Kiner-Falefa said.
While Kiner-Falefa only made a few outfield appearances during camp – he played there a handful of times in the minors, too – he feels he’s ready for center at Yankee Stadium. Line drives proved challenging at first, but he feels comfortable now after putting in time with Yankees outfield coach Luis Rojas.
“Skill-wise, he has the ability to really do it and do it well,” Boone said. “Hopefully, we can continue to develop that kind of role with him.”
Kiner-Falefa, happy to still be a Yankee after a bumpy first season and a winter of trade rumors, is looking forward to more assignments beyond the infield.
“I like how you just run balls down,” he said when asked what he likes about the outfield. “The freedom of not having to do something perfect. You just have to make the play. Last year, playing shortstop, sometimes I got caught up on being too perfect and caring about how I looked instead of finishing the play.
“Out there, the only thing that matters is catching the ball and making a good throw.”
VOLPE’S SPEED
Anthony Volpe now has three stolen bases in as many career games after swiping another bag against the Giants Sunday.
The 21-year-old’s speed in the nine-hole has benefited the Yankees offense, as Volpe makes for a distracting threat when the top of the order is up.
“It’s one of the things he’s excellent at,” Boone said. “He’s an elite base runner. He’s not a burner. He’s got good speed, but he’s just a special base runner.
“I like him [ninth], ahead of our big boys.”
HICKS HELD OUT
Aaron Hicks has received just one at-bat and zero starts through the Yankees’ first three games, but Boone said “he’s gonna play,” likely over the next two games. The manager added that he plans on using the switch-hitter in center field, in addition to left.
“I have no idea what my role is,” Hicks told The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty on Sunday.
Later in the day, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, primarily a career infielder, started in center for the first time as a major leaguer. Hicks sat once again, with Boone citing matchup concerns.
MOUNTAINOUS MATCHUP
Speaking of matchups, Sunday’s game featured one between two of the tallest people in baseball. Judge, who is 6-7, faced San Francisco’s Sean Hjelle, who stands 6-11.
The seventh-inning at-bat ended with Judge striking out on a foul tip.
INJURY UPDATES
Boone said that the past week has been encouraging for reliever Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis). The reliever will probably start playing catch in the next few days.
Carlos Rodon’s (forearm strain) next step is to throw another session involving two “ups.” Boone said that hitters could stand in for the second part of the session, though they won’t swing.
THE MARTIAN LANDS IN SOMERSET
Jasson Dominguez, the Yankees’ top prospect — aside from Volpe — was assigned to Double-A Somerset. The 20-year-old is coming off a monstrous spring, but he only picked up a few games of experience with the Patriots last season.
Boone said during spring training that the Yankees plan on moving Dominguez around the outfield this year. He’s exclusively played center field up to this point in his young career.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service