Alex Verdugo Hitting Leadoff In Season Debut On Friday
Atlanta Braves outfielder Alex Verdugo will make his season debut on Friday night hitting leadoff against Chris Paddack and the Minnesota Twins. Verdugo was recently called up from Triple-A Gwinnett where he hit for a .751 OPS in 33 PA. The lefty will look to bounce back after having a subpar season for the Yankees in 2024, hitting for just an 83 OPS+. The Braves need all the help they can get in their lineup, which has been underwhelming by their standards and has led to just a 5-13 record. Both lefties and righties have been hitting Paddack well this season, giving Verdugo intriguing opportunity in DFS leagues. Fantasy managers needing outfield help in deeper leagues may want to snag Verdugo off their waiver wire as well.
The Atlanta Braves have recalled outfielder Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, the Braves have optioned outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to Triple-A. The Braves inked Verdugo to a minor-league contract earlier in the spring, and he will now make his Atlanta debut. During the first nine games of the Triple-A regular season, Verdugo held a .207/.303/.448 slash line with two long balls. Verdugo had a disappointing campaign in the Bronx last season as he held a .233/.291/.356 line with 13 long balls, which was a stark decline from the .264/.323/.431 line he held during the 2023 campaign. De La Cruz tallied just one extra-base hit during the first 16 games of the MLB season and will look to turn the corner at Triple-A. Verdugo should see ample opportunities in the starting nine with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) still sidelined.
The Athletic's David O'Brien writes that all signs point to outfielder Alex Verdugo joining the Atlanta Braves this week after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the team on March 20. Verdugo hit a three-run homer at Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday and was pulled two innings later, fueling speculation that he'll join the team for their series opener in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Monday. A team official said that the 28-year-old was scheduled for a light day on Sunday, though, after he played all 14 innings of a doubleheader on Saturday. If he doesn't join the Braves in Toronto, Verdugo will likely be with them against the Minnesota Twins this weekend. After missing most of spring training, Verdugo has hit .182 (4-for-22) with a double, two homers, four RBI and a .700 OPS with Gwinnett. When he joins Atlanta, he could see regular playing time with both Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz struggling.
The Atlanta Braves have signed outfielder Alex Verdugo to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Verdugo has been linked to several suitors throughout camp. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to have a depth role in the Atlanta outfield. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .233/.291/.356 slash line across 149 contests with the New York Yankees. He showed a strong eye at the plate, holding a 15.0 percent strikeout rate, but struggled to generate offense with his bat as he posted a modest .302 xwOBA. In addition, Verdugo was an elite defender, as he placed in the 94th percentile in arm strength and 96th percentile in arm value. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to compete for starting opportunities in right field while Ronald Acuna Jr.'s (knee) remains sidelined. He will likely operate on the strong side of a platoon in right field alongside Bryan De La Cruz. Verdugo will likely limit the opportunities for Jarred Kelenic, who is also a left-handed bat who posted a low .231 AVG last season.
Alex Verdugo Patiently Waiting On Free-Agent Market
Free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo is biding his time on the free-agent market, but time is running out for him to sign with a new team before Opening Day at the end of March. The 28-year-old could be holding out for a better offer that he feels matches his value, but it's also possible that teams just aren't that interested in him after a disappointing season in 2024 with the New York Yankees. Once a former top prospect, Verdugo had a career-worst 83 OPS+ in the Bronx after being acquired in a trade from the division-rival Boston Red Sox. He has not lived up to his prospect hype and slashed .233/.291/.356 with a career-low .647 OPS, 13 home runs and 61 RBI last year. Despite the poor season, the Yankees continued to trot him out there. He went 10-for-48 (.208) in 14 playoff games last fall. A potential reunion went out the window when the Yankees signed Cody Bellinger in free agency.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shown interest in free-agent outfielder Alex Verdugo. While Murray did not indicate how strong the interest was, Verdugo would likely have an everyday role in right field if he joins the Pirates. Last season with the Yankees, the 28-year-old had a disappointing performance, as he held a .233/.291/.356 slash line, which was the lowest of his career. He hit 13 home runs and swiped two bags. While he did not hit the ball hard, he continued to show a great eye at the plate with a 15.0% strikeout rate and 15.5% whiff rate, which were both significantly above the average marks. He has also been an excellent defender throughout most of his career. Currently, Nick Yorke is slated to be the starting right fielder in the Steel City.
New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo went 2-for-3 with two singles, two runs, and a walk in their Game 1 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Verdugo tallied his two runs off a Gleyber Torres home run in the third inning and an Austin Wells single in the sixth. In the seventh inning, Verdugo knocked a single to left field, which scored Jazz Chisholm Jr. to put the Yankees in the lead. Rookie Jasson Dominguez was in danger of taking Verdugo's starting role in left field, but given this performance, he should continue to see most of the opportunities there throughout the playoffs. Despite the strong outing, the 28-year-old is best to fade in DFS on Monday when he will face Kansas City southpaw Cole Ragans.
Alex Verdugo To Start In Left Field In Game 1 Of ALDS
New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo will start in left field for the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Michael Wacha, according to league sources. There was some question as to whether it would be Verdugo or young outfielder Jasson Dominguez starting in left field to open the playoffs for the Bombers. Verdugo hit .233/.291/.356 with a below-average .647 OPS, 13 homers, 61 RBI and 74 runs in 559 at-bats in his first year in the Bronx. He hit .234 (15-for-64) with two homers, seven RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts in 19 games in September to close out the regular season. Verdugo has faced Wacha 11 times in his career, picking up three hits (one double) with a walk and a strikeout. He'll likely be slotted near the bottom of the Yankees' batting order on Saturday.
New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo launched a pinch-hit homer in a blowout victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Verdugo didn't start the game, but came in as a pinch-hitter for Jasson Dominguez late in the game and took advantage of the opportunity. The lefty has seen his playing time dwindle lately due to poor performance and the depth of the Yankees outfield. Verdugo will have a hard time cracking the lineup for the postseason and will likely be a bench option. The same can be said for the 2025 season, causing his fantasy value to tank.
New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo made the start in left field while batting ninth on Monday in the series opener at Yankee Stadium against the visiting Kansas City Royals, but it seems likely that he's going to be the odd man out in New York's outfield with prospect Jasson Dominguez being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Manager Aaron Boone said that Aaron Judge will be in center field on most days, with Giancarlo Stanton serving as the designated hitter, as expected. The Yankees didn't call up Dominguez to ride the pine at the big-league level, so he will most likely take over regular duties in left field and send Verdugo to the bench more often than not. Verdugo did go 2-for-4 with his 12th homer of the year in the 10-4 win over the Royals on Monday, but he came into the contest with a .235/.295/.356 slash line with a below-average .651 OPS in 519 at-bats in 2024.
Alex Verdugo
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Braves
