Tampa.- The New York Yankees are looking for ways to make subtle changes that help Dominican third baseman Miguel Andujar improve their defensive skills.
Andújar worked with boxing coach Carlos Mendoza and driver Aaron Boone last season, both in his native Dominican Republic and in Tampa, with the goal of reducing the 15 mistakes he made in his rookie season.
The number of errors that the Dominican had placed him fourth in that section among the third basemen of the Major Leagues.
Andújar, who is aware of the errors, said that “the defense plan since the off-season has been to improve my position, improve my first step, improve my direction when pitching.”
He said he has talked with his pilot and agrees that “a combination of different things should allow me to be better and better.”
The Dominican, who was runner-up in the vote for the American League Rookie of the Year Award last year, is far from a finished defensive product, as he registered a -25 DRS (Defensive Racing Saved) last season.
But he led all the big league rookies in hits, with 170; in doubles, with 47; in incogibles extra-base, with 76, and in games with at least two hits, with 53, and tied the first place in home runs, with 27. (USA), (EFE).
