Last year the Yankees dominated the AL East and easily sailed into the playoffs, however, they failed to reach the World Series for the first time since 2009. Once again they were eliminated in the ALCS by the Houston Astros, this time in six games.
At the beginning of the year Miguel Andujar, the starting third basemen from the year prior, sustained a torn labrum and had season-ending surgery. This left the 3rd base position open and it was quickly taken by the young star Gio Urshela. Urshela finished the year with a .314 batting average and slugged 21 home runs.