Luke Voit

Injuries cost the Yankees the big bats of both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton for the majority of 2020. Enter Voit, who stepped into the sizable shoes of his slugging teammates to pace the majors with 22 home runs. The long-ball total was one more than Voit hit in over twice as many at-bats in 2019 despite posting a nearly identical barrel rate (13.1%) and average exit velocity (88.9 mph). Voit's launch angle was slightly up (from 12.5 to 15.2 degrees), but his most significant adjustment was a 54.4 Pull% that was sixth-highest among qualified hitters and a 6.5-point increase over his 2019 mark. As a nice bonus, his 23.1 K% was the best of his career. Voit has been incredible offensively since joining the Yankees, seizing a role as as the unquestioned everyday first baseman in a potent lineup. He's a safe bet for above-average production with a palatable batting-average floor heading into 2021.

After a spectacular debut campaign in the Bronx, Voit came back to earth last season as his .263 batting average, 20.4 AB/HR and .200 ISO were merely mortal compared to his output in 2018. Still, Voit's final numbers would have looked better if not for a sports hernia that cost him most of August and a subsequent 1-for-32 slump to conclude the regular season. Voit proved to be a valuable presence near the top of the lineup by ranking fifth in the American League in walk rate (13.9%) and ninth in OBP (.378) last season. Those numbers make his troubling 27.8 K% more palatable, especially with a slew of hitters below him capable of driving in runs. Voit's hard-hit rate dropped precipitously in 2019 while his average exit velocity dipped from 93.0 mph to 89.7 mph; he's likely to fall somewhere between those extremes and settle in as an above-average source of power and counting stats in 2020.

The Yankees needed an insurance policy behind Greg Bird at first base. Many were underwhelmed when that player turned out to be Voit. Funny how things work out. He hit two homers in a game Aug. 26 and the Yankees decided to give him a longer look at first. Voit hit .323/.402/.707 in his final 28 games, relegating Bird to the bench and off the roster entirely for the Wild Card Game. He had an OPS over 1.000 against RHP and LHP. Voit had flashed some pop, but as a 22nd round pick in 2013 and a R/R first baseman, he was never considered much of a prospect. Given that lack of pedigree and his 26.7 K%, it's understandable to be skeptical of a player whose first big-league success came at age 27. However, everything in his batted-ball profile (47.0 Hard%, 35.0 GB%, 41.0 Pull%) suggests he deserved all the success he had last season. That does not mean he will replicate it, but there are not glaring red flags that suggest significant regression is coming.

Voit was slashing .327/.407/.565 at Triple-A Memphis when he was called up by the Cardinals on June 24. The righty-swinging first baseman remained with the big-league team for the duration of the season, starting 19 games, 13 of which were in July. Voit complied a modest .246/.306/.430 line in his rookie campaign with four homers, three in July. As is the case with most first-year hitters, Voit's plate skills suffered in his initial foray against major-league pitching, fanning at a 25 percent clip, compared to a mark in the teens as he progressed through the Redbirds' system. Voit's six percent walk rate was also lower than his days on the farm. Depending on how the roster shakes out, Voit could be battling Jose Martinez for a roster spot, as they both hit from the right side and can dabble in the outfield.