Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Transitioning to utility role
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Kiner-Falefa is slated to get a start in center field later this week as he transitions to a utility role, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The writing had been on the wall that Kiner-Falefa wasn't going to win the Yankees' shortstop job and now that's essentially being confirmed. Oswald Peraza is the heavy favorite to open at short for the Yanks, although Anthony Volpe is still in the mix, as well. IKF has a little bit of minor-league experience in the outfield, although he's never played there in the big leagues.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Could be super utility player
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Kiner-Falefa might wind up playing all over the field -- including the outfield -- if Oswald Peraza wins the Yankees' shortstop job, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic on Thursday.
He's never played the outfield in the majors, although he does have a little bit of outfield experience in the minors. Kiner-Falefa has played shortstop almost exclusively in the big leagues the last two seasons, but Peraza is considered the favorite to start there for the Bronx Bombers on Opening Day.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Avoids arbitration
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Kiner-Falefa signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Yankees on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Kiner-Falefa slashed .261/.314/.327 as the Yankees' primary shortstop in 2022. With the Yankees positioned to spend big in free agency this offseason, it's possible they search for another infielder that can provide more offensive production and move IKF to more of a bench role in 2023.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On bench again in Game 3
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Kiner-Falefa will remain on the bench for Game 3 of the ALCS against the Astros on Saturday.
Kiner-Falefa was the Yankees' primary shortstop during the regular season, but he's fallen out of favor recently and will sit for the fourth time in the past five games. Oswaldo Cabrera will make another start at the position in Game 3.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Sitting out Game 2
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Kiner-Falefa isn't in the lineup for Game 2 of the Yankees' ALCS matchup against Houston on Thursday.
Kiner-Falefa has slashed .267/.353/.267 over 17 postseason plate appearances thus far. After a 1-for-4 performance in Game 1, he will pass shortstop duties over to Oswald Peraza, who will bat eighth.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Sitting again in elimination game
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup Monday for Game 5 of the Yankees' American League Division Series with the Guardians.
He'll find himself on the bench for the second straight night in an elimination game, an indication that manager Aaron Boone no longer views Kiner-Falefa as the team's top shortstop. Oswaldo Cabrera will move from what had been his usual spot in the outfield to replace Kiner-Falefa, allowing Aaron Hicks to make another start in left field.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Not starting Game 4
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Kiner-Falefa isn't starting Game 4 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Sunday.
Kiner-Falefa started the first three games of the ALDS and went 3-for-11 with a run, a stolen base, a walk and a strikeout. Oswaldo Cabrera will take over at shortstop and bat sixth as the Yankees attempt to stave off elimination Sunday.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Takes seat Wednesday
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Kiner-Falefa will stick on the bench for the second straight game to close out the regular season while the Yankees have little at stake with regard to playoff positioning. Oswald Peraza will step in at shortstop in place of Kiner-Falefa, who finishes with a .261/.314/.327 slash line to go with four home runs, 22 stolen bases, 66 runs and 48 RBI in his first season in New York.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Sitting for Game 2
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.
Kiner-Falefa started the matinee and will head to the bench after he went 1-for-4. Oswald Peraza will take over at shortstop and bat sixth in the nightcap.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Added to Monday's lineup
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Kiner-Falefa was added to the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.
Kiner-Falefa was slated to get a day off Monday, but he'll join the starting lineup after Gleyber Torres (undisclosed) was scratched. Kiner-Falefa will start at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Riding pine Monday
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Kiner-Falefa isn't starting Monday against Texas.
Kiner-Falefa is on the bench for the third time in the last five games after he went 2-for-7 with a stolen base over his last two matchups. Oswald Peraza will take over at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Not starting Saturday
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Kiner-Falefa isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Orioles.
Kiner-Falefa is on the bench for the second time in the last three games after he went 1-for-3 with a stolen base during Friday's loss to Baltimore. Oswald Peraza will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: On bench Wednesday
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Kiner-Falefa isn't starting Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Kiner-Falefa is on the bench for the second time in the last four games after he went 1-for-7 with a solo home run, a walk and two strikeouts over the last two matchups. Oswald Peraza will start at shortstop and bat cleanup.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Pushes hit streak to five
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays in 10 innings.
Kiner-Falefa extended his hitting streak to five games and helped stake the Yankees to an early 2-0 lead with his two-out blast off Kevin Gausman. The home run was his fourth of the season, with three coming since Sept. 5.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Heads to bench Sunday
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Kiner-Falefa is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Kiner-Falefa started the past six games and will take a seat after he went 5-for-24 with an RBI and two runs. Oswald Peraza will step in at shortstop and bat ninth.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Sleeper hitters for Week 25 (Sept. 19-25)
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Kiner-Falefa has done his best to hold off Oswald Peraza here in September, batting .313 (15 for 48) with two of his three home runs on the year and five of his 20 stolen bases. The Yankees have only six games this week but not a single tough pitcher on the schedule, unless you count Roansy Contreras.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Heads to bench
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Kiner-Falefa will sit Saturday against the Brewers.
Kiner-Falefa finds himself on the bench for just the second time this month. He's hit .326 with two home runs and five steals thus far in September. Oswald Peraza will start at shortstop Saturday.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Reaches 20 steals
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Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 5-3 win against Boston.
Kiner-Falefa made an out in each of his first two trips to the plate before walking in the sixth and singling in the eighth. He stole second base in each of the latter two plate appearances, moving him up to 20 thefts on the campaign. Kiner-Falefa has reached base in each of his 11 games during September, slashing .350/.422/.525 with two homers, seven RBI, nine runs and five thefts during that span.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Steals 18th base
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Kiner-Falefa went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base in a 4-3 loss Thursday against Minnesota.
Kiner-Falefa singled and scored in the second and singled and stole a base in the eighth. Entering the game, he had a .335 SLG and .068 ISO -- both career lows in a full season -- but that didn't stop the Yankees from hitting the 27-year-old cleanup for the first time in his career. Perhaps it was his two homers in the past three games -- bringing his total for the season to three -- or the fact that New York is so injury-riddled that Kiner-Falefa was the best option to bat fourth. He is 9-for-23 with two homers and three stolen bases in six games this month and could continue to see time in the heart of the Yankees' lineup in the near future.
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Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Huge day in twin bill
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Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-8 with a walk, a home run, three runs scored, five RBI and two stolen bases in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Twins.
After swiping two bases in the matinee, Kiner-Falefa made his one hit in the nightcap count as he launched a grand slam off Joe Ryan. The shortstop has been feeling some pressure from rookie Oswald Peraza for playing time, but Kiner-Falefa has responded by hitting safely in five straight games to begin September. On the season, the 27-year-old is slashing .267/.316/.335 with three homers, 17 steals, 44 RBI and 58 runs in 122 contests.
