Isiah Kiner-Falefa Trying Catcher Again In Desperate Bid To Make Yankees

Isiah Kiner Falefa’s position with the Yankees is still unclear with one week until Opening Day.

“Whatever happens, happens,’’ Kiner-Falefa said Wednesday. “I just want to win. That’s all I’m worried about right now. I am ready for whatever I need to do.”

For the first time in four years, catcher practise is included.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa Trying Catcher Again In Desperate Bid To Make Yankees

In 2019, he started 31 games in the catcher’s position for the Rangers, which was the last time he donned catchers’ gear.

But Wednesday, he was testing on his freshly delivered tools of ignorance inside his locker at Steinbrenner Field, where he expected to complete his first practise behind the plate as a Yankee.

Kiner-Falefa is trying to be as adaptable as possible in order to land a bench position in the Bronx despite the fact that he is aware he won’t be the Yankees’ starting shortstop.

“I think they expected me to bring it up when I did,’’ Kiner-Falefa said of the team’s reaction when he mentioned doing some catching drills. “If I’m gonna do this, I want to be the best utility player I can be. I don’t want to do it halfway.”

Jose Trevino is dealing with a wrist ailment, Kyle Higashioka hasn’t returned from the World Baseball Classic, and prospects Ben Rortvedt and Austin Wells are also injured, leaving the Yankees low on catchers.

“I looked at it as a good opportunity,’’ Kiner-Falefa said.

Aaron Boone said there are no plans to get him in a game before the end of spring training at the new position.

“Not necessarily,’’ Boone said before the Yankees lost to Washington, 5-2, in West Palm Beach. “The biggest thing is just [for him to] catch some [bull]pens. Obviously, he’s the emergency guy, but I don’t want to just throw him back there.”

Kiner-Falefa also spent part of Wednesday’s practise in centre field, where he said he felt “very, very comfortable.”

So far, his experience in left field has been “a bit awkward. Dealing with the angles is more difficult. Being an athletic is more important in the middle.

A position he initially played at Double-A in 2016, when he was losing at-bats in the infield to other Rangers organisation prospects, he is also depending on his athleticism as catcher.

After being brought up to Texas for the first time in 2018 as an infielder owing to injuries to Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, and Rougned Odor, he moved back to catcher when they were all healthy. He was an All-Star at Double-A.

He also understands that if he does catch, it will likely be in an emergency.

“I’m not gonna be expected to frame pitches,’’ Kiner-Falefa said. “I just want to get the job done.”

 

 

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