Ex-Yankee Alex Verdugo Nears 30th Straight Game With Zero Home Runs
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
After a disappointing season with the New York Yankees, outfielder Alex Verdugo entered free agency — and got no takers. None, that is, until the Atlanta Braves signed him as an outfield depth piece with just a week left in spring training.
After making $8.7 million in his one year with the Yankees, Verdugo was offered just $1.5 million from Atlanta, and the Braves told him he would need to start the season in the minor leagues.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 06: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves at bat during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on May 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 06: Alex Verdugo #8 of the Atlanta Braves at bat during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on May 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kevin D. Liles/With the suspension of Jurickson Profar, who the Braves had signed to a three-year, $42 million free agent deal, Verdugo suddenly found himself more than a depth piece. He has served as Atlanta's regular leadoff hitter since he was called up on April 18.
Unfortunately, Verdugo has picked up more or less where the left off with the Yankees. After posting a .233 batting average and .647 OPS for New York, with 13 home runs, the 29-year-old has now played 26 games for the Braves with a .661 OPS and .264 batting average.
Verdugo has yet to hit any home runs at all for Atlanta.
More MLB: Braves Fans Can't Believe Yankees Castoff Hit Leadoff in Debut for Atlanta
In fact, going back to his final days with the Yankees, Verdugo, ahead of Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals, has played 28 games without going deep. The 29-year-old has appeared at the plate 123 times in that span.
His current homer-less streak, however, is not even the longest of his career. In fact, it is the seventh-longest, both in terms of games played and plate appearances.
In 2023, his last of four seasons with the Boston Red Sox — who acquired him in the February, 2020, trade that sent 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers — Verdugo went 45 games and 205 plate appearances without a homer. That was the lengthiest streak with no home runs of his career.
He hit 13 in total that year, the same number he hit with the Yankees in 2024.
Verdugo's lack of production at the top of the lineup does not seem to be holding the Braves back, however. When he made his debut on April 18, Atlanta sat in the National League East basement at 5-13.
Since then, with Verdugo playing in 26 of their 29 games, the Braves have went 19-10, raising their record above .500, at 24-23, for the first time all season. They sit in third place, five games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, and just 3 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot.
More MLB: Former Yankee Banished From Bronx Offers Explanation For Disastrous Season
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Ex-GM's Yankees-Mets Trade Idea Would Send All-Star Batting Champion To Bronx
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The New York Yankees currently have DJ LeMahieu and Jorbit Vivas at second base. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. back in the hot corner, the Yankees may want an upgrade next to Anthony Volpe. LeMahieu is not the same player he once was, and his health is hardly reliable. The Yankees look like World Series contenders again, but may need to find an upgrade up the middle of their infield to reach the World Series again. Former New York Mets general manager Zack Scott suggested Jeff McNeil could be a target for the Yankees. "The Mets have some surplus," Scott said on "Baseball Night in New York." "Maybe Jeff McNeil would be a great fit for the Yankees." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on June... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 28: Jeff McNeil #1 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Citi Field on June 28, 2024 in the Queens borough of New York City. MoreThe Mets suddenly have Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio as options to play if they trade McNeil. McNeil has split time between the outfield and second base. McNeil signed a four-year, $50 million deal before the 2023 season. He was coming off a season in which he won the National League batting title with a .326 average. He has not been able to maintain that type of production, but he would be an upgrade over the Yankees' current options. He is slashing .247/.349/.461 with three home runs after missing a month of the season. If the Mets are comfortable with Acuña as an everyday player, in either the outfield or at second base, they could move on from McNeil. The Mets may have reservations about trading McNeil to the Yankees, but it may help them get an expensive player off the books and make way for some young players to get more playing time. McNeil is a two-time All-Star and would help the Yankees try to reach the World Series again. More MLB: Paul Skenes to Red Sox? Insane Trade Thought Pushed by MLB Network Host
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Yankees Get Bad News on $73 Million Star They Were 'Closely Monitoring,' Per Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After making it all the way to the World Series last year, the New York Yankees seem just a piece or two away from returning. The team had the second-most wins in the American League going into Thursday but if it wants to fortify the roster for a deep playoff run, it might have to seek out another starting pitcher. Gerrit Cole will miss the season and Luis Gil has yet to pitch, with Marcus Stroman lingering on the injured list. Unfortunately for New York, the team's potential list of trade targets just took a hit as Minnesota Twins star Pablo Lopez has been ruled out for several months with a shoulder problem. "The Yankees had been closely monitoring Minnesota Twins ace Pablo Lopez as a potential top-of-the-rotation trade acquisition," Alexander Wilson wrote for Empire Sports Media. "With a 2.82 ERA over 60.2 innings and elite peripheral stats, he looked like the missing piece for October stability." BRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: New York Yankee general manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Dustin... BRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: New York Yankee general manager Brian Cashman speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by)Lopez is in the second season of a four-year, $73 million contract with the Twins. The team has the American League's third-best record, so it's far from a sure thing the Yankees would have been able to pry him away from the Twins. But now, after this unfortunate health news, Wilson believes the team will change course and consider some alternative trade options. "With Lopez sidelined, general manager Brian Cashman must now pivot quickly to find the next viable solution," he wrote. "The Yankees don't need an ace — they just need someone who can bridge the gap and provide some rotational glue." With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, the Yankees might have to identify the right trade target sooner rather than later. More MLB: Rafael Devers to Phillies? MLB Writer Floats Idea Where Red Sox Dump Disgruntled Star
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Red Sox Blockbuster Trade Idea Cuts Ties With Rafael Devers for MLB's No. 5 Prospect
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Boston Red Sox are nine games back of the New York Yankees for the American League East lead and four games out of the final Wild Card spot. While they are not sellers yet, they could be by the time the July 31 deadline rolls around. The Red Sox season has been highlighted by injuries and drama. One of the biggest storylines has been Rafael Devers' position. He was moved off of third base when the team signed Alex Bregman. When Triston Casas went down, he was reportedly asked by Craig Breslow to play first base, which upset him and led to a rant in the media. Now, with Alex Bregman hurt, the team does not seem interested in letting him play third base, making for a messy situation. Compound that with the fact that the team is not playing well, and the team could be ready to move on from Devers and embrace a youth movement. The Red Sox are already relying on contributions from young players like Ceddanne Rafaela, Marcelo Mayer, Wilyer Abreu and Kristian Campbell. FanSided's Christopher Kline suggested the Red Sox trade Devers to the Philadelphia Phillies to add another young star, Andrew Painter, MLB Pipeline's No. 5 prospect, to their young core. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 08: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after hitting a one-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on May 08,... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 08: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after hitting a one-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on May 08, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. More"While Devers' production is smoothing over negative feelings in the fanbase, there is palpable tension with the front office," wrote Kline. "Boston is under no pressure to rush the 28-year-old out the door, as he's under contract through 2033, but now might be a good time to cut bait on a negative defender with a hefty salary number through his age-36 season. The Phillies stomach major long-term commitments better than most franchises, and there's an open slot at third base if Philadelphia decides to reroute Alec Bohm, which could return Devers to his position of choice." Trading Devers would come as a huge shock, and the Red Sox would have to practically be eliminated from the postseason to even consider it. However, trading Devers for a package centered around Painter could set up the Red Sox for years of success. The Red Sox already have an ace in Garrett Crochet. Adding Painter would help them solve their woes around their ace. Additionally, opening up the DH spot would finally give the team a way to get Roman Anthoy, the top prospect in baseball, into the big leagues. Essentially, the Phillies would be parting ways with Devers to then go into next season with Crochet, Campbell, Mayer, Anthony, Abreu, Jarren Duran and Painter as the pillars of their team. Meanwhile, the Phillies would be capitalizing on their opportunity to win now, before they potentially lose Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto in free agency. Painter is not going to help them win this season, most likely, but Devers would. It would also allow them to flip Alec Bohm for some outfield help. More MLB: Yankees-Braves Trade Idea Gives New York Another Hard Throwing Left-Handed Pitcher
