The New York Yankees have a 65.3% win percentage at the All-Star break, and are on-pace to break the single-season home run record as a team in 2018. They came into the year looking stacked at nearly every position, faced some injuries, but found even more depth in their minor league system. Here’s my grades for every player (who isn’t a pitcher) to don the pinstripes this 2018 season.

INFIELDERS

Gleyber Torres (2B/SS) – The man billed as “The Next Jeter” since the Cubs sent him to the Yankees. The word was Gleyber could be ready heading into the season, but that he’d probably have to start in the minors due to a few different factors, most importantly salary control. By April 22nd, Gleyber Torres was up, and it looks like he’s never going back down.

Gleyb Ruth is batting .294 to lead the Yankees everyday players in average, and has a surprising amount of pop in his bat, with his 15 homers in 63 games. Gleyber is a dynamic infielder, but seems a little out of sorts making throws sometimes, due most likely to him still getting acclimated to second base. Gleyber made the All-Star team, but missed playing with an injury he should be back from shortly. Torres is also making his case for the Yankees’ second straight Rookie of the Year.

Grade: A++

Miguel Andujar (3B) – The doubles machine with the helicopter swing. I’m not sure why, but Miguel Andujar reminds me of the late, great, actor Frank Vincent. The man just has style, and I hope he’s a Yankee for a long time. He doesn’t walk much, but he also doesn’t strikeout often (59 K’s in 319 at-bats), and has shown he can hit in clutch situations, just like his fellow rookie, Torres.

Andujar’s defense leaves a bit to be desired. His glove usually gets to the ball when it’s supposed to, but he has trouble making the transfer, or waiting for the ball to come to him, and it’s bit the team Thein the behind a few times.

He’s a rookie, and the only Yankee with 20 or more doubles (27), so far this season. He’s also been one of the healthiest players on the team, which is becoming more important with each player that misses time.

Grade: A-

Didi Gregorius (SS) – The heart of this New York Yankees infield, Didi Gregorius. When the team needed someone to carry them through a slow start, Didi was there. He may have jinxed himself for a bit by going for the “road curtain call” in Anaheim, but no one can prove that. It’s a shame he couldn’t keep up his early season pace, as he would have been a 1st-time All-Star, but the AL Shortstop position was too unforgiving this season.

The Yankees biggest weakness this year has been infield defense, and things would be in shambles if Didi wasn’t the shortstop. Didi may have 4 errors on the season, but he’s a guy who keeps track of everything once the ball is in-play, like a shortstop is supposed to. He dives, makes crazy throws, and puts down great tags on throws from the outfield or catcher.

I’d say Didi’s biggest problem this year is getting caught stealing (6 CS on 16 attempts), and the timing behind those outs. Still, enough cannot be said for his AL Player of the Month to start the year, and all the little things he does in the field with his youthful teammates.

Grade: B+

Gary Sanchez (C) – Don’t let his .190 batting average fool you, Gary Sanchez was still putting up monster offensive numbers for a catcher in most categories. His injury set him back a little, but he’s another key component who is supposed to be ready for the second half. He’s sixth on the team in home runs and RBI, despite missing nearly a month since being injured on June 25th.

Gary had a few important balls get by him this season, but his insane arm has been missed behind the plate, as teams seem to run on Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka at-will.

Grade: B

Austin Romine (C) – Romine performed well above expectations before Gary Sanchez was injured, and played around his average back-up level since The Kraken’s DL stint. Being Sonny Gray’s personal catcher hasn’t amounted to much, but he’s been fine handling every other pitcher, as long as he doesn’t have to throw anyone out.

The guy is a Yankee, and is impossible not to like, especially when he’s able to return to his back-up role.

Grade: C+

Greg Bird (1B) – Greg Bird was picking up steam heading into the All-Star break, so now I have to decide if I think he’ll continue trending that way, or fall into the Greg Bird from his first 90 at-bats this season. His defense at first isn’t anything to talk about, but it’s the strongest option the Yankees have fielded in 2018. His grand slam was clutch when it occurred, even if the Bronx Bombers couldn’t hold on.

The Yankees are desperate for a powerful (LEFTY) first baseman, and Greg Bird shows flashes, but it really all comes down to his health. If he can have a run similar to his last month in 2017, the Yankees should be set at the position. Greg Bird’s biggest weakness, even when he’s swinging a hot bat, is his speed. The man cannot run the bases, and we’ll always be haunted by his baserunning in the 2017 ALCS, but let’s just hope he trots around the bases when it matters this year.

Grade: C

Ronald Torreyes (INF) – Has only had the chance to appear in 24 games, but he’s batting .323 with 6 doubles, and 6 RBI. The fact that he’s able to come up and play whenever he’s needed at any position is always respected. Judge giving him phantom high-fives when he’s in the minors is memorable, albeit a little sad. Grade: C

Tyler Austin (1B) – Filled-in for Bird, started a brawl with Boston, and has two more RBI than Bird in 19 less at-bats. He couldn’t hit righties (.206 avg), and wasn’t great at first, but he did his job while he was up with the big boys. I wouldn’t be surprised if Austin was thrown into a trade, though. Grade: C

Tyler Wade (INF) – Wade’s Spring didn’t translate to the regular season from an offensive level, but his defense in the middle of the infield is as trustworthy as anyone not named Didi. His bat may come around (10/52), but if all else fails, he’s another strong baserunner, second only behind Gardner on this current squad. Grade: C-

Neil Walker (INF) – Neil Walker evolved into Neil Hitter a few times this season, and has played part in some rallies, but overall he’s just taking up Ronald Torreyes’ space. He’s not a great fielder, and was supposed to be “an above average hitter”, and I’m hoping he’s not a player the Yankees have to rely on when it’s time for THE CRUNGE. Grade: D

Kyle Higashioka (C) – Went insanely long without a hit, then hit a bomb in his first couple hits, and is pretty much what you’d expect from your team’s third Catcher. Fun guy to watch when he’s doing well, but not someone you want to see in your lineup. Grade: D

Brandon Drury (INF) – Looked okay before he was found out for having recurring migraines. Seemed to be doing fine in AAA, but hasn’t translated that in his few chances up in pinstripes. A guy who withheld the truth from Cashman regarding his health automatically loses points with me. Grade: D-

OUTFIELDERS

Aaron Judge (RF/CF) – The guy gets on about 40% of the time (.392 OBP), leads the team in every offensive category besides hits, and is the most dangerous arm I’ve ever seen from right field. He launches bombs, steals home runs, and is the face of the biggest franchise in sports. Aaron Judge is easily my favorite human being playing Major League Baseball today.

Judge is penalized for his size by umpires calling entirely different strike zones day-to-day, and number 99 just keeps on rolling. No one is perfect, he has 132 strikeouts, but so many are effected by bad calls shifting counts, and Judge always plays through everything unphased. Judge also had a nice All-Star Game home run off of Max Scherzer, just to let everyone know he’s ready for the second half of 2018.

Grade: A

Giancarlo Stanton (RF/LF) – He started the season with a couple of homers against the Blue Jays in Toronto, and then went on a bit of a slide. Now that the break has come around, Stanton seems to be right where all of his averages were last year around this time. He’s shown fearlessness in the field, an extra bit of speed on the basepaths, and an insane amount of exit velocity anytime the ball comes near his bat.

I feel, unlike Judge, Stanton allows himself to get behind pitchers on much more hit-able strikes, but even that is happening less and less as he finds comfort in pinstripes. He also seems to be a bit of a beast leading off innings, so that’s always nice when the Yankees start out with a 1-2-3 offensive first, and you have Stantman waiting to lead-off the second from the clean-up spot.

Stanton didn’t make the AL All-Star Team in his first try, so hopefully that drives him like the angriest version of THE HULK through the rest of 2018.

Grade: A-

Brett Gardner (LF/CF) – The longest tenured Yankee, ten years as of last week, has shown why he’s a key component to this squad. Brett “The Jet” is basically the C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees’ offense, as the veteran that keeps everyone in line, while also doing his part to contribute in big moments consistently.

Gardner is the only everyday player the Yankees have whose speed is actually dangerous. I call him “1st to 3rd” because the man knows how, and when, to advance when he reaches base. He hasn’t shown a ton of power this year, which he usually doesn’t, but that hasn’t stopped him from hitting 9 bombs to go with his 9 stolen bases.

I trust Brett Gardner on-base in any situation, which is why he’s the Yankees perfect lead-off man.

Grade: B+

Aaron Hicks (CF) – If Brett Gardner isn’t leading off for the Yankees, then I hope Aaron Hicks is. This man is a bat-flip waiting to happen every time he comes to the plate, and he’s also Bernie Williams-esque in center field. There were some worries, but the more I see Hicks play, the better I feel about him in big spots. He’s basically the Greg Bird of the outfield, since he’s known to get injured, and is better the more he plays.

Hicks is 4th on the team in RBI/HR’s, just behind Didi in both categories, and I can’t wait to see how he produces the rest of the way. Hicks may be the least appreciated player by fans, media, etc, but he’ll probably be a big part of the Yankees win 28.

Grade: B+

Clint Frazier (OF) – Probably the most ready player who can’t crack the regular lineup. Frazier swings the bat with confidence, seems to move well in the outfield, but there’s just never enough at-bats around for him. Clint is another guy I have a feeling will be traded sooner than later. Grade: C

Shane Robinson (OF) – I called him Shane “Make-a-Wish” Robinson during Spring Training due to his Jose Altuve-like stature, but he’s got a hit, 2 walks, and a stolen base in his couple of games, so good on him. Grade: D+

Billy McKinney (OF) – Had an interesting Spring, but an uneventful 4 at-bats in the Majors, so far in 2018. Grade: D

Jace Peterson (OF) – Didn’t do much, and is now an Oriole. Grade: F

New York Yankees 1st Half of 2018 Grades (PITCHERS)

-JPLS