Before Jake Bauers and Billy McKinney unexpectedly became two of the Yankees’ more consistent hitters, the journeymen were teammates at Triple-A.
There, the non-roster invitees talked about their up and often down careers, their experiences in the majors, and the success they were having at the highest level of the minor leagues earlier this season. But rather than longing for the bright lights of The Show, Bauers said he and McKinney focused on “enjoying wherever you are.”
“If you’re in Triple-A and all you’re thinking about is the big leagues, chances are 1) you’re not going to be playing well, and 2) you’re going to be miserable,” the 27-year-old Bauers said Wednesday after he and McKinney homered in a 4-2 Yankees win over the Mariners. “Most of the conversations that we did have were more just about how to enjoy whatever’s happening wherever it’s happening.”
That perspective helped the two outfielders thrive in Scranton, even though they wanted to be in the Bronx after 591 games of combined MLB experience.
“It’s a stressful game. It’s a hard game, too,” McKinney said. “Just going in and out of it every day, you kind of have to have a positive mindset and always try to find any positive in anything and stay away from the negatives, because it can take you down. Jake and I have kind of been through it, just the negative thoughts. We were just talking in Triple-A, just always trying to bring a good attitude, bring a good feel and a good vibe, and hopefully it helps the team out.”
McKinney’s so called “positive attitude” has translated to excellent numbers over a limited sample.
The 28-year-old has reached base in all 12 of the games he’s played in since joining the Yankees on June 7, and he’s recorded a hit in 11 of them. McKinney entered Thursday slashing .317/.333/.659 with three doubles, one triple, three homers and five RBI over 42 plate appearances.
“It’s just been consistent at-bats day in and day out,” Aaron Boone said of McKinney, who’s on his second stint with the Yankees after playing the first two games of his career for them in 2018. “Even if he gets a hit or not.”
McKinney forced his way onto the major league roster by slashing .274/.388/.511 with nine dingers and 25 RBI over 40 Triple-A games.
“I’m not sure. That’s a good question. I’d have to take a look,” McKinney said when asked if this is the best stretch of his career. “But I’m just glad to get on base and help the team anyway, anyhow.
“I’ve always believed in myself, but you gotta prove it in this game. If you hit, you’ll play. That’s what my old man always said.”
As for Bauers, he spent all of 2022 in the minors, where Yankees coaches helped him revamp his swing and abort thoughts of an early retirement after a trade from the Reds organization.
Bauers earned his big league promotion on April 29 after slashing .304/.448/.797 with nine home runs and 20 RBI over 21 Triple-A games this season. He’s only hit .231 for the Yankees, but he’s been a consistent contributor since May 29, slashing .274/.343/.597 with eight doubles, four homers and 12 RBI over 70 plate appearances.
Recently, he’s been batting first a lot.
“Jake’s done a really good job of impacting the ball, and especially in the leadoff spot lately,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s had really competitive at-bats.”
Bauers said that he’s no longer getting in his own way mentally or worrying about his swing, which has allowed him to focus more on game plans and preparation.
That — and the outlook he shares with McKinney — has helped Bauers make the most of his latest chance in the big leagues.
“I see every single day that I’m in the lineup as an opportunity,” Bauers said. “I know, probably better than anybody, that nothing in this game is guaranteed. So every night when I get that lineup and I see that I’m in there the next day, I take it as a blessing.”
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