Yankees Mag: Battle-Tested and Ready for More

In a rare occurrence, the Boston Red Sox dealt one of the most productive hitters in their lineup to the Yankees last December. In exchange for right-handed reliever Greg Weissert and Minor League pitchers Richard Fitts and Nicholas Judice, the Yankees landed 27-year-old outfielder Alex Verdugo.

In three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and four with the Red Sox, Verdugo produced a .281 average with 57 home runs while striking out fewer than 100 times every year.

A second-round Draft choice of the Dodgers in 2014, the Tucson, Ariz., native was traded to Boston in the February 2020 deal that sent Mookie Betts to L.A. Verdugo batted .308 and .289, respectively, in his first two seasons in Beantown while also giving the Red Sox solid defensive play at all three outfield positions.

Verdugo then played a major role in his postseason debut -- a 6-2 victory over the Yankees in the 2021 American League Wild Card Game. In that night’s winner-take-all contest at Fenway Park, Verdugo showcased his ability to perform in the season’s biggest moments, collecting two hits and three RBIs.

Verdugo sat down with Yankees Magazine editor-in-chief Alfred Santasiere III at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., during Spring Training to discuss his feelings about exchanging red socks for pinstripes, as well as so many other aspects of his career and persona.

Yankees Magazine: There have been some great players -- starting with Babe Ruth and extending to Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon -- who successfully made the transition from the Red Sox to the Yankees. What do you think about being in that rare club of players who have worn both uniforms?

Alex Verdugo: That’s not something I have thought about yet, but those guys were all beloved in Boston and then in New York. They got so much love because they did great things in both places. There are so many players who have a great run in one place but can’t continue it when they move on to a new team. I feel like I’m at a point in my career where I can really do some special things in pinstripes, and I’m proud of what I accomplished in Boston.

YM: How would you compare the two organizations?

AV: The one common thing is that they are both first-class organizations. They are both really good at what they do. They are really good at drafting great players and helping them reach their potential.

YM: What was your reaction to getting traded to the Yankees?

AV: Initially, I wasn’t happy, but I think because it was my second time being traded, I handled it better than the first time. I was a little mad, especially coming from one team that is part of such an intense rivalry to the team on the other side of it. It’s just an uncommon thing to happen. But after about two days, I started thinking about how my last year went with the Red Sox, and I ended up becoming really excited about this. I thought about getting to play on the same team with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo, guys I have talked to throughout the years while playing against them. I was really excited to get the chance to be around them. And, when you think about Juan Soto being on this team, we’ve got studs on this team. I think it’s one of those things where my mind switched to excitement quickly. I feel like I got a fresh start, and I want to go about everything in the right way. I’m really happy about getting to pick the brains of guys who have had so much success.

YM: Where were you when you got traded?

AV: I was moving into a new house in Tucson. It was a whirlwind, but I can’t complain. I’m on my third team, and they are the most historic teams in baseball history. I’m lucky and blessed.

YM: When did you shave the beard you had worn for so many years?

AV: Within three days of the trade. I wanted to get that aspect out of the way. Now that I’ve been shaving so frequently, it’s not a bad thing.

YM: What was your first impression of the players in the clubhouse here?

AV: They’re way cooler than I even anticipated. When I wake up in the morning, even if I’m dragging, I look forward to getting to work. I look forward to talking shop with these guys and taking the field with them. There’s a vibe here that I haven’t been around in a while, or maybe ever.

YM: In an era in which batting average has gone down and strikeouts have gone up, you have consistently hit for a high average with fewer than 100 strikeouts each season. What are your goals as they relate to those two statistics in the future?

AV: I’ve always been a big contact guy. I’ve been able to use my hands and make contact consistently. I’m just trying to clean up some pieces of my swing and make more efficient contact. Sometimes I felt like I was giving up an at-bat because I was putting the ball in play a little early. I want to be the guy who gets on base and sets the tone for the bigger guys. Those big guys can do a lot more damage than me, so they can afford to strike out more. For me, I hate striking out. It’s a horrible feeling. I pride myself on making contact and using the whole field.

YM: How important do you feel it is for a team to have a diverse lineup, with players like you who put the ball in play consistently, along with the power guys, and also someone like Soto, who does it all?

AV: Every lineup has to complement itself. Every lineup has to balance itself from 1 to 9. You can’t have any easy part of a lineup to pitch to. The Yankees have addressed a lot of that this past offseason. They have always had very talented players and guys who could lead the league in all of the power numbers. When those guys are at their best, they’re hitting two home runs every night. But when those guys are 0-for-3, you need some guys who are more like me, guys who can get three hits just by spraying the ball around a little bit. You need guys who can make the pitcher uncomfortable in the late innings so that he gives up a walk and then makes a mistake against Giancarlo Stanton or Aaron Judge. We have a lot more lefties than the Yankees have had in a while, guys who can control the zone very well and take walks. I feel like we are going to put pressure on pitchers in a lot of different ways, not just with the long ball.

YM: Going back to your days growing up in Tucson, when did you feel that you would have a chance to play baseball for a living?

AV: When you go back to high school, everyone in this clubhouse was the guy that people came out to watch. Whether it was me, Juan Soto or Anthony Volpe, we were all really good at that age. We were a lot further along than most other players. I always felt that I was going to make it to the big leagues. I never struggled with the confidence aspect of it, and I always believed in who I was as a player. I think being “the guy” in high school and then still being “the guy” in the Minors helped me a lot. When you get to the big leagues, it’s like, these are all “the guys.” At this level, it’s about doing things that separate yourself from other players. What makes a player different? Work ethic and a good routine. I look at DJ LeMahieu, who has won a few batting titles, and Judge and Stanton, who have won MVP Awards, and Soto, who has won Silver Slugger Awards. We have guys who understand how to control the zone and put fear in pitchers’ eyes. Those guys are different from the rest, and I feel blessed to be able to talk to them and to learn from them.

YM: So many players struggle in their first Minor League season, but you batted .353 right out of the gate. What was that experience like, and how did it impact the next chapter of your life?

AV: It was big for me. In high school, we would see a few guys that threw hard, but it was rare to see a guy throw 95. Then you get to pro ball, and everybody is throwing that hard. You’re seeing a lot of guys who were more throwers than pitchers. When I got to Rookie ball, it felt like everybody was throwing ched. I didn’t know how I was going to deal with that, but I just opened my stance and got my foot down early. I tried to see the ball as well as I could, and I followed my swing right up the middle. I was able to hit the fastball all over the outfield and pull offspeed pitches. I hit pretty well, and I became more comfortable as I got more at-bats. Just like anything in life, when you have some success, it gives you validation. From there, I felt like I was ready for the next level.

YM: What do you remember from your first game in the big leagues with the Dodgers?

AV: The energy I had. I was trying to stay calm, but I was just so wired up. It was so much fun. I got my first hit the next day against Clayton Richard, a lefty from the Padres. He threw a two-seamer on the inside part of the plate, and I hit a soft line drive past the shortstop for a base hit. I was so pumped up, and then I got picked off on the next pitch! I realized right away how fast the pace of the game is in the big leagues. I felt like I belonged there, but that first month was all about getting comfortable around the big leaguers, comfortable about having cameras on you at all times.

YM: In 2021, you had another new experience, playing in the postseason for the first time. What was the atmosphere like in Fenway Park and on the road that October?

AV: There’s nothing like postseason baseball. It’s so much fun. That’s where stats go out the window; all that matters is winning. The support you get from your teammates is different. Everyone in the dugout is cheering on every pitch. If you did that during the season, you would be drained by May. It’s full adrenaline in the playoffs. October baseball is what you live for as a baseball player. To get a taste of it in 2021 and have some success -- to do well against the Yankees in the Wild Card Game, a do-or-die game -- that’s the feeling that you want to have in baseball.

YM: From your perspective, what’s the status of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry in 2024?

AV: It’s still there. When I was with the Red Sox, even when we weren’t having a great season, on the days you’re playing the Yankees, you still wake up with extra adrenaline. You still want to go out there and kick their [butt]. I know that the guys in this clubhouse felt the same way about beating the Red Sox. That has never changed.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Alfred Santasiere III is the editor-in-chief of Yankees Magazine. This story appears in the June 2024 edition. Get more articles like this delivered to your doorstep by purchasing a subscription to Yankees Magazine at www.yankees.com/publications.