Will Josh Donaldson escape the fate of Aaron Hicks?

After Aaron Hicks’ unceremonious exit, Yankees fans continued to press for a similar treatment to Josh Donaldson. However, returning to the field after an extended absence due to a strained hamstring, the veteran third baseman made a resounding impact in a bittersweet 8-4 defeat against the Dodgers. With an impressive display of power, he belted two home runs, showcasing the prowess that had been temporarily sidelined since April 5.

This remarkable feat not only marked his first multi-home run performance in pinstripes but also ignited a glimmer of hope that Josh Donaldson’s offensive contributions could surpass those of the previous season.

In the face of skepticism from some fans, who believed his career had reached its twilight at the age of 37, Josh Donaldson defied expectations. Despite the nearly two-month hiatus between games, he returned to the field with a vengeance, leaving no doubt that he was determined to make up for lost time.

“Today’s one day,” Josh Donaldson told. “Gotta come out and do it again [Saturday].”

Right from his first at-bat against Clayton Kershaw, Josh Donaldson wasted no time in making his presence felt. With a powerful swing, he launched a solo home run that sailed an impressive 446 feet to the left-center field, leaving no doubt about its trajectory. He saved his best for the ninth inning. Facing reliever Phil Bickford, he unleashed another mighty swing that resulted in a two-run homer. Mirroring his earlier shot, this one also found the same spot in left-center field, traveling a distance of 418 feet.

Yankees trust Josh Donaldson despite fan pressure

Despite the criticism from some fans, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Aaron Boone have remained steadfast in their support of Josh Donaldson. They were well aware of the negative reception he received last season and even before he suffered a hamstring injury in his fifth game this year.

Cashman and Boone recognized Josh Donaldson’s exceptional defensive skills at third base last year, knowing that if they were to part ways with him, the team would bear the burden of his hefty $21 million salary for this season, along with a $6 million buyout for the following year.

Although the Yankees had hoped for more home runs and runs batted in from Josh Donaldson last year, they never entertained the idea of giving up on him. They shared the fans’ frustration when he played only five games this season before succumbing to a worsening hamstring injury during his rehabilitation process.

Throughout the offseason, spring training, and even during Josh Donaldson’s injury, both Cashman and Boone remained in his corner. They consistently expressed their belief that his struggles in 2022 were an aberration and that he had the potential for a resurgent season.

The Yankees exhibited patience and confidence in Josh Donaldson’s ability to make a significant impact as a right-handed power hitter. While it may be unrealistic to expect him to match his extraordinary 41-homer output during his AL MVP season with the Blue Jays in 2015, hitting 30 homers for the fifth time appeared to be a reasonable expectation.

In his first game back after nearly two months on the injured list, Josh Donaldson proved his worth. Displaying his power, he smacked two home runs in four at-bats during the Yankees’ 8-4 loss to the Dodgers, providing Boone with a moment of pride and the opportunity to laud his performance.

“The guy has been a wrecking machine his whole life,” Boone commented. “He’s got that skill set. He still has that power, that twitch, that bat speed. I know it’s in there.”

Josh Donaldson expressed a similar sentiment, stating that he believes he can still be a great player when asked about it after Friday’s game. He responded by saying, “Of course, obviously.”

Continuing with this mindset, Josh Donaldson emphasized that he could have the same level of performance again on Saturday. It’s worth noting that Josh Donaldson didn’t have a game like this last season when he played 132 games and posted a .222 batting average with 15 home runs and 62 RBI.

According to Boone: “It was definitely encouraging to see him come out strong right from the start. Hopefully, this can provide some momentum for him because he’s a great player when he’s in top form. “When you’ve been out for a while and get results like he did, hopefully that’s something that goes a long way and gets him rolling,” Boone said.”

Josh Donaldson felt confident heading into Friday’s game based on his at-bats in the four rehab games he played between May 25th and May 30th. He had appearances in three games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and one game with Double-A Somerset, accumulating a 4-for-13 record with a home run and four walks.

The Checkmate

There has been a significant decline in Josh Donaldson’s offensive skills from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, he ranked in the top 1% with an average exit velocity of 94.1 mph. However, that number dropped to 90.7 mph in 2022. Additionally, his barrel percentage decreased from 17.4% to 9.8% last season. He struggled with hitting breaking balls and off-speed pitches and had difficulty keeping up with high-velocity pitchers.

During the playoffs, Josh Donaldson’s batting performance was not good, as he only managed to get 5 hits out of 29 at-bats and struck out 16 times. Despite this, the Yankees believed in a potential resurgence for Donaldson based on his 2021 performance, although his advanced metrics indicated a decline in his abilities.

In the spring, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his disagreement with the notion that there wouldn’t be a bounce-back in Josh Donaldson’s offensive performance. He believed that Donaldson still possessed bat speed and acknowledged his exceptional talent. He also mentioned that Josh Donaldson was in a much better physical condition compared to the same time the previous year.

In Donaldson’s absence, DJ LeMahieu has mainly taken up the third base role. However, with Josh Donaldson’s comeback, LeMahieu might find himself without a regular position, considering Gleyber Torres is firmly established at second base and Anthony Rizzo is the everyday first baseman. It has been observed that the lineup performs better with LeMahieu in it rather than Josh Donaldson, and LeMahieu’s defensive skills at the hot corner are comparable, if not superior, to Donaldson.

If the Yankees decide to keep Josh Donaldson, the ideal situation would involve LeMahieu starting most games at third base while Donaldson serves as a bench player, only playing occasionally. However, this approach carries the risk of putting too much strain on LeMahieu, who has dealt with injuries towards the end of the past two seasons.

If Josh Donaldson continues to struggle at the plate, there would be no reason for the Yankees to hold back from taking a similar course of action as they did with Hicks. He is owed approximately $27 million for the remainder of the season, which is nearly the same amount the Yankees will be paying Hicks to no longer play for them. Considering the Yankees’ financial standing, this sum is relatively small and would allow for a smoother roster adjustment if they determine that it’s time to part ways with Josh Donaldson.

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