2020 New York Yankees

The final standing	Lost the ALDS to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Regular season record	33–27 (.550)
Post-season record	4-3
Divisional rank	No. 2 in AL East
ALDS record and opponent	Lost 2-3 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
AL rank	No. 5
ALCS record and opponent	Didn’t play
World Series record and opponent	Didn’t play
Manager	Aaron Boone
Captain	None
Top batter	Home run: Luke Voit (22), DJ LeMahieu (10), Gary Sanchez (10), Aaron Judge (9) BA: DJ LeMahieu (.364), Gio Urshela (.298), Luke Voit (.277) Run: Luke Voit (41), DJ LeMahieu (41), Aaron Hicks (28) RBI: Luke Voit (52), Gio Urshela (30), DJ LeMahieu (27)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Gerrit Cole: 7-3, 2.84 Masahiro Tanaka: 3-3, 3.56 J.A. Happ: 2-2, 3.47
Attendance record	Played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Season: A Brief Summary

The 2020 New York Yankees had their season unfolded against the tumultuous backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming the baseball landscape into a realm of uncertainty, surprises, and unprecedented challenges. The season’s narrative, akin to the erratic nature of a newborn’s development, played out like a roller coaster ride for fans who eagerly embraced its imperfections.

Amid the pandemic’s disruptions, the MLB season faced delays and uncertainties, ultimately culminating in a 60-game sprint that began on July 23. The 2020 New York Yankees commenced the shortened season with a scorching 16-6 start, only to face a stark reversal of fortune, losing 15 of their next 20 games, which left their win-loss record at a precarious 21-21.

As the season progressed, the 2020 New York Yankees clinched the 5th seed in the American League, securing a playoff berth. The postseason journey began with a sweep of the Cleveland Indians in the Wild Card Series, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the Yankees’ perennial struggles against the Tampa Bay Rays persisted in the American League Division Series (ALDS), leading to their elimination in a hard-fought five-game series.

The metaphorical comparison between the 2020 New York Yankees and a newborn child evoked a myriad of emotions experienced by fans. Each day brought forth a unique set of challenges and joys, with successes and failures magnified in the condensed season. The statistical oddity of one game equating to 2.7 in the standings added to the chaos, making every decision and outcome feel both random and consequential.

The season’s defining stretch, from August 21-30, encapsulated the unpredictability. Amid postponed games, rainouts, and doubleheaders, the 2020 New York Yankees navigated a surreal sequence of events. Walk-off victories, unusual scenarios, and record-setting moments, such as Gary Sanchez’s pinch-hit, extra-innings grand slam, highlighted the team’s resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges.

The 2020 New York Yankees showcased a convergence of the “Baby Bombers” and the “Next Man Up” ethos, creating a narrative that was as irregular as the circumstances that defined the year. The condensed schedule, doubleheaders, and ever-changing dynamics demanded adaptability from both players and managers, epitomized by Aaron Boone’s squad.

Despite the unpredictable nature of the season, the 2020 New York Yankees exhibited flashes of brilliance. DJ LeMahieu led the league in batting average, Luke Voit topped the home run charts, and Gerrit Cole made a solid debut, finishing with a 2.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. The postseason performance featured standout contributions from Giancarlo Stanton‘s six home runs and Cole’s impressive 30 strikeouts in three starts.

In retrospect, the 2020 New York Yankees was a testament to adaptability, resilience, and the ability to find success amidst chaos. As fans reflect on the unpredictable journey, they’ll cherish even the imperfections, recognizing that, in the extraordinary landscape of 2020, baseball provided a welcome distraction and a source of both frustration and elation.

The most memorable game of the 2020 New York Yankees

In a season marked by ups and downs, the 2020 New York Yankees faced a significant challenge when the Mets arrived at Yankee Stadium for a crucial five-game series in late August. The Bronx Bombers were in the midst of a disheartening slump, having lost seven of their last eight games and struggling to find their offensive rhythm.

The opening game of a Sunday doubleheader epitomized the Yankees’ struggles, with the team trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Despite the seemingly insurmountable deficit, the 2020 New York Yankees rallied. Luke Voit’s single to right field narrowed the gap to 7-4, injecting a glimmer of hope into the Bronx air.

The turning point came when Edwin Diaz’s wild pitch allowed Thairo Estrada to score, cutting the Mets’ lead to 7-5. With renewed energy, Aaron Hicks stepped up to the plate and delivered a powerful two-run home run, igniting the crowd as the game leveled at 7-7. The improbable comeback set the stage for Gio Urshela, whose clutch single to right field in the bottom of the eighth secured a thrilling 8-7 victory for the Yankees in Game 1.

What made this moment truly extraordinary was the context of the 2020 New York Yankees’ slump. The team, struggling to generate runs and mired in a challenging stretch, desperately needed a spark. The dramatic turnaround against the Mets offered a brief respite and injected hope into the hearts of fans, signaling that, despite the ongoing struggles, the Yankees possessed the resilience to overcome adversity.

Although the overall slump would persist beyond this series, this unforgettable comeback against the Mets provided a beacon of optimism for fans and players alike. It served as a turning point, foreshadowing the resilience that would come to define the 2020 New York Yankees as they navigated the unpredictable twists and turns of the unique 2020 season.

2020 New York Yankees season in videos

Wild Card result

Yankees 2–0 Indians

#	Date	Opponent	Stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	Attendance	Series
1	September 29	@ Indians	Progressive Field	12–3	Cole (1–0)	Bieber (0–1)	—	N/A	1–0
2	September 30	@ Indians	Progressive Field	10–9	Chapman (1–0)	Hand (0–1)	—	N/A	2–0

ALDS result

Yankees 2–3 Rays

#	Date	Opponent	Stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	Attendance	Series
1	October 5	@ Rays	Petco Park	9–3	Cole (1–0)	Snell (0–1)	—	N/A	1–0
2	October 6	@ Rays	Petco Park	5–7	Glasnow (1–0)	Happ (0–1)	Fairbanks (1)	N/A	1–1
3	October 7	Rays	Petco Park	4–8	Morton (1–0)	Tanaka (0–1)	—	N/A	1–2
4	October 8	Rays	Petco Park	5–1	Green (1–0)	Thompson (0–1)	Chapman (1)	N/A	2–2
5	October 9	@ Rays	Petco Park	1–2	Castillo (1–0)	Chapman (0–1)	—	N/A	2–3

ALCS Result

(Didn’t play)

World Series result

(Didn’t play)

2020 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age		B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Albert Abreu	24	do DO	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Sep 26, 1995	1st	2	0	-0.3
Miguel Andujar	25	do DO	R	R	6′ 0″	211	Mar 2, 1995	4	21	18	-0.4
Luis Avilán	30	ve VE	L	L	6′ 2″	235	Jul 19, 1989	9	10	0	0.1	$100,000
Zack Britton	32	us US	L	L	6′ 1″	200	Dec 22, 1987	10	20	0	0.5	$13,000,000
Luis Cessa	28	mx MX	R	R	6′ 0″	222	Apr 25, 1992	5	16	0	0.3	$895,000
Aroldis Chapman	32	cu CU	L	L	6′ 4″	235	Feb 28, 1988	11	13	0	0.4	$16,000,000
Gerrit Cole	29	us US	R	R	6′ 4″	220	Sep 8, 1990	8	12	12	2.2	$36,000,000
Thairo Estrada	24	ve VE	R	R	5′ 10″	185	Feb 22, 1996	2	26	15	-0.1
Estevan Florial	22	do DO	L	R	6′ 1″	195	Nov 25, 1997	1st	1	1	0
Mike Ford	27	us US	L	R	6′ 0″	225	Jul 4, 1992	2	29	18	-0.6
Clint Frazier	25	us US	R	R	5′ 11″	212	Sep 6, 1994	4	39	39	1.8
Deivi García	21	do DO	R	R	5′ 9″	163	May 19, 1999	1st	6	6	0.3
Brett Gardner	36	us US	L	L	5′ 11″	195	Aug 24, 1983	13	49	40	0.7	$10,000,000
Chad Green	29	us US	L	R	6′ 3″	215	May 24, 1991	5	22	0	0.4	$1,275,000
David Hale	32	us US	R	R	6′ 2″	210	Sep 27, 1987	7	5	0	0.1
J.A. Happ	37	us US	L	L	6′ 5″	205	Oct 19, 1982	14	9	9	1.2	$17,000,000
Ben Heller	28	us US	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Aug 5, 1991	4	6	0	0.1
Aaron Hicks	30	us US	B	R	6′ 1″	205	Oct 2, 1989	8	54	49	0.7	$10,785,714
Kyle Higashioka	30	us US	R	R	6′ 1″	202	Apr 20, 1990	4	16	13	0.4
Jonathan Holder	27	us US	R	R	6′ 2″	232	Jun 9, 1993	5	19	0	0.1	$750,000
Aaron Judge	28	us US	R	R	6′ 7″	282	Apr 26, 1992	5	28	26	1.1	$8,500,000
Tommy Kahnle	30	us US	R	R	6′ 1″	230	Aug 7, 1989	7	1	0	0.1	$2,650,000
Michael King	25	us US	R	R	6′ 3″	210	May 25, 1995	2	9	4	-0.6
Erik Kratz	40	us US	R	R	6′ 4″	250	Jun 15, 1980	11	18	9	0.3	$100,000
Brooks Kriske	26	us US	R	R	6′ 3″	205	Feb 3, 1994	1st	4	0	-0.4
DJ LeMahieu	31	us US	R	R	6′ 4″	220	Jul 13, 1988	10	50	47	3	$12,000,000
Jonathan Loáisiga	25	ni NI	R	R	5′ 11″	165	Nov 2, 1994	3	12	3	0.5
Tyler Lyons	32	us US	L	L	6′ 2″	210	Feb 21, 1988	8	1	0	-0.1
Jordy Mercer	33	us US	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Aug 27, 1986	9	6	4	0
Jordan Montgomery	27	us US	L	L	6′ 6″	228	Dec 27, 1992	4	10	10	0.2	$805,000
Nick Nelson	24	us US	R	R	6′ 1″	205	Dec 5, 1995	1st	11	0	-0.1
Adam Ottavino	34	us US	B	R	6′ 5″	246	Nov 22, 1985	10	24	0	-0.1	$9,000,000
James Paxton	31	ca CA	L	L	6′ 4″	212	Nov 6, 1988	8	5	5	-0.4	$12,500,000
Gary Sánchez	27	do DO	R	R	6′ 2″	230	Dec 2, 1992	6	49	45	-0.3	$5,000,000
Clarke Schmidt	24	us US	R	R	6′ 1″	200	Feb 20, 1996	1st	3	1	-0.1
Giancarlo Stanton	30	us US	R	R	6′ 6″	245	Nov 8, 1989	11	23	23	0.6	$26,000,000
Masahiro Tanaka	31	jp JP	R	R	6′ 3″	218	Nov 1, 1988	7	10	10	0.7	$23,000,000
Mike Tauchman	29	us US	L	L	6′ 1″	220	Dec 3, 1990	4	43	27	0
Gleyber Torres	23	ve VE	R	R	6′ 1″	205	Dec 13, 1996	3	42	40	0
Gio Urshela	28	co CO	R	R	6′ 0″	215	Oct 11, 1991	5	43	42	2	$2,475,000
Luke Voit	29	us US	R	R	6′ 2″	258	Feb 13, 1991	4	56	55	1.7
Tyler Wade	25	us US	L	R	6′ 1″	188	Nov 23, 1994	4	52	29	0.7
Miguel Yajure	22	ve VE	R	R	6′ 1″	215	May 1, 1998	1st	3	0	0.2

2020 New York Yankees additions, transactions, and trades

2019:

• December 11: Gerrit Cole signs with the Yankees for $324 million over nine years.
• December 12: Brett Gardner re-signs with the Yankees for one year, $12.5 million.

2020:

• August 21: Acquired right-handed reliever Addison Russ from the Philadelphia Phillies, trading David Hale.
• August 26: Acquired catcher Rob Brantly from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations.

2020 New York Yankees player debuts

• Albert Abreu – 08-08-2020 – 25 years old
• Estevan Florial – 08-28-2020 – 22 years old
• Deivi García – 08-30-2020 – 21 years old
• Brooks Kriske – 07-29-2020 – 26 years old
• Nick Nelson – 08-01-2020 – 24 years old
• Clarke Schmidt – 09-04-2020 – 24 years old
• Miguel Yajure – 08-31-2020 – 22 years old
• Jonah Heim – 08-25-2020 – 25 years old

2020 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Gary Sánchez	27	49	178	156	19	23	4	0	10	24	0	0	18	64	0.147
1B	Luke Voit	29	56	234	213	41	59	5	0	22	52	0	0	17	54	0.277
2B	DJ LeMahieu	31	50	216	195	41	71	10	2	10	27	3	0	18	21	0.364
SS	Gleyber Torres	23	42	160	136	17	33	8	0	3	16	1	0	22	28	0.243
3B	Gio Urshela	28	43	174	151	24	45	11	0	6	30	1	0	18	25	0.298
LF	Brett Gardner*	36	49	158	130	20	29	5	1	5	15	3	3	26	35	0.223
CF	Aaron Hicks#	30	54	211	169	28	38	10	2	6	21	4	1	41	38	0.225
RF	Clint Frazier	25	39	160	131	24	35	6	1	8	26	3	0	25	44	0.267
DH	Giancarlo Stanton	30	23	94	76	12	19	7	0	4	11	1	1	15	27	0.25
RF	Aaron Judge	28	28	114	101	23	26	3	0	9	22	0	1	10	32	0.257
OF	Mike Tauchman*	29	43	111	95	18	23	6	0	0	14	6	0	14	26	0.242
MI	Tyler Wade*	25	52	105	88	19	15	3	0	3	10	4	1	12	22	0.17
1B	Mike Ford*	27	29	84	74	5	10	4	0	2	11	0	0	7	16	0.135
UT	Miguel Andujar	25	21	65	62	5	15	2	1	1	5	0	0	3	9	0.242
IF	Thairo Estrada	24	26	52	48	8	8	0	0	1	3	1	0	1	19	0.167
C	Kyle Higashioka	30	16	48	48	7	12	1	0	4	10	0	0	0	11	0.25
UT	Erik Kratz	40	16	30	28	2	9	2	0	0	4	0	0	2	6	0.321
SS	Jordy Mercer	33	6	13	11	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0.182
CF	Estevan Florial*	22	1	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.333
	Team Totals	28.5	60	2210	1915	315	473	87	7	94	301	27	7	251	480	0.247
	Rank in 15 AL teams				13	1	8	12	7	2		7	4	1	2	6

2020 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Rk	Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
1	SP	Gerrit Cole	29	7	3	0.7	2.84	12	12	0	2	1	0	73	53	27	23
2	SP	J.A. Happ*	37	2	2	0.5	3.47	9	9	0	0	0	0	49.1	37	19	19
3	SP	Masahiro Tanaka	31	3	3	0.5	3.56	10	10	0	0	0	0	48	48	25	19
4	SP	Jordan Montgomery*	27	2	3	0.4	5.11	10	10	0	0	0	0	44	48	27	25
5	SP	Deivi García	21	3	2	0.6	4.98	6	6	0	0	0	0	34.1	35	20	19
6	SP	James Paxton*	31	1	1	0.5	6.64	5	5	0	0	0	0	20.1	23	17	15
7	CL	Zack Britton*	32	1	2	0.333	1.89	20	0	10	0	0	8	19	12	6	4
8	RP	Chad Green	29	3	3	0.5	3.51	22	0	5	0	0	1	25.2	13	13	10
9	RP	Jonathan Holder	27	3	0	1	4.98	18	0	4	0	0	0	21.2	25	13	12
10	RP	Luis Cessa	28	0	0		3.32	16	0	6	0	0	1	21.2	20	10	8
11	RP	Adam Ottavino	34	2	3	0.4	5.89	24	0	4	0	0	0	18.1	20	12	12
12		Michael King	25	1	2	0.333	7.76	9	4	1	0	0	0	26.2	30	23	23
13		Jonathan Loáisiga	25	3	0	1	3.52	12	3	2	0	0	0	23	21	11	9
14		Nick Nelson	24	1	0	1	4.79	11	0	4	0	0	0	20.2	20	13	11
15		Aroldis Chapman*	32	1	1	0.5	3.09	13	0	8	0	0	3	11.2	6	4	4
16		Luis Avilán*	30	0	0		4.32	10	0	1	0	0	0	8.1	9	4	4
17		Miguel Yajure	22	0	0		1.29	3	0	3	0	0	0	7	3	1	1
18		Clarke Schmidt	24	0	1	0	7.11	3	1	2	0	0	0	6.1	7	5	5
19		David Hale	32	0	0		3	5	0	1	0	0	1	6	7	2	2
20		Ben Heller	28	0	0		3	6	0	2	0	0	0	6	5	2	2
21		Brooks Kriske	26	0	0		14.73	4	0	2	0	0	0	3.2	3	6	6
22		Erik Kratz	40	0	0		9	2	0	2	0	0	0	2	2	2	2
23		Tyler Lyons*	32	0	0		21.6	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.2	3	4	4
24		Albert Abreu	24	0	1	0	20.25	2	0	1	0	0	0	1.1	4	4	3
25		Tommy Kahnle	30	0	0		0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
		Team Totals	28.9	33	27	0.55	4.35	60	60	58	2	1	14	500.2	455	270	242
		Rank in 15 AL teams		6	10		8				1	8	9	14	4	6	6

2020 New York Yankees vs. opponents/team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Atlanta Braves (4)	2	2	0.500
Baltimore Orioles (10)	7	3	0.700
Boston Red Sox (10)	9	1	0.900
Miami Marlins (3)	1	2	0.333
New York Mets (6)	3	3	0.500
Philadelphia Phillies (4)	2	2	0.500
Tampa Bay Rays (10)	2	8	0.200
Toronto Blue Jays (10)	5	5	0.500
Washington Nationals (3)	2	1	0.667

2020 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
July (6)	5	1	0.833
August (27)	14	13	0.519
September (27)	14	13	0.519

2020 New York Yankees All-Stars

Note: The All-Star game in 2020 was canceled. However, MLB released a list of “Unofficial 2020 All-Stars” who it believed deserved the recognition.

Yankees players in that list were: 

• Luke Voit
• Aaron Judge

2020 New York Yankees awards and honors

• DJ LeMahieu’s Silver Slugger Award (2020): In recognition of his outstanding offensive performance in the 2020 season, DJ LeMahieu was honored with the prestigious Silver Slugger Award.

• Unofficial All-Stars Recognition for Luke Voit and Aaron Judge (2020): Despite the cancellation of the official All-Star Game in 2020, Luke Voit and Aaron Judge earned recognition on the unofficial All-Stars list, a testament to their exceptional contributions during the season.

• Luke Voit’s Home Run Leadership (2020): Luke Voit asserted his dominance in the 2020 season by clinching the league’s home run leadership, showcasing an impressive display of power and batting prowess.

How do you rate the 2020 New York Yankees?