Luke Voit has established himself as an essential bat in the Yankees’ lineup this year, and he’s also emerged as a team leader in the clubhouse. There’s been so much excitement this year surrounding Voit’s status as a potential MVP candidate and MLB’s home run leader that the hype overshadows a less obvious accomplishment: his improved defense at first base.
When GM Brian Cashman traded for Voit back in 2018, Voit’s defensive prowess was not part of the package. Cashman saw enough potential in Voit’s bat to trade for him, despite the general assessment that Voit, as a first baseman, was decidedly below average.