Who is the Yankees' Most Underrated First Base Prospect?

The New York Yankees have a long and storied history of producing some of the best first basemen in baseball history, from Lou Gehrig to Don Mattingly to Mark Teixeira. However, there is one current Yankees first base prospect who has flown under the radar but has the potential to be a star: Chris Gittens.

Gittens was drafted by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M University. He has spent the last several years working his way up through the Yankees' minor league system, and he finally made his MLB debut in 2021. In 47 games with the Yankees last season, Gittens hit .263 with 9 home runs and 32 RBIs.

Gittens is a switch-hitter with a good eye at the plate and the ability to hit for power. He is also a solid fielder with a strong arm. Gittens is still only 25 years old, so he has plenty of room to grow and develop. However, he has already shown that he has the potential to be a valuable player for the Yankees.

With the Yankees set to open the 2023 season with Anthony Rizzo at first base, Gittens will likely start the season in Triple-A. However, if he continues to perform well, he could force his way into the Yankees' lineup sooner rather than later.

Name	Position	Age	Bats	Throws
Chris Gittens	First Base	25	Both	Right

Yankees' Underrated First Base Prospect

The New York Yankees have a long and storied history of producing some of the best first basemen in baseball history. However, there is one current Yankees first base prospect who has flown under the radar but has the potential to be a star: Chris Gittens.

Age: 25
Position: First Base
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
Strengths: Power, fielding, switch-hitting ability
Weaknesses: Strikeouts, speed
Ceiling: All-Star caliber first baseman
Outlook: Gittens is expected to start the 2023 season in Triple-A, but he could force his way into the Yankees' lineup sooner rather than later.

1. Age

The age of 25 is a significant milestone in the career of a baseball player. By this age, most players have had several years of experience in the minor leagues and have begun to establish themselves at the Major League level. For first basemen, age 25 is often when they begin to reach their peak performance. Some of the best first basemen in baseball history, such as Lou Gehrig and Albert Pujols, had their best seasons in their mid-to-late 20s.

Physical Prime: At age 25, baseball players are typically in their physical prime. They have the strength, speed, and agility to perform at their best. This is especially important for first basemen, who need to be able to field ground balls, make quick throws, and hit for power.
Mental Maturity: By age 25, baseball players have also typically developed the mental maturity to succeed at the Major League level. They have learned how to deal with the pressure of playing in front of large crowds and the media. They have also learned how to make adjustments to their game based on the opposing pitcher and the game situation.
Experience: By age 25, first basemen have typically had several years of experience in the minor leagues and have begun to establish themselves at the Major League level. They have learned how to handle the rigors of a long season and have developed the skills necessary to be successful.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Some players peak earlier or later than others. However, for most first basemen, age 25 is a time when they are ready to take their game to the next level. Chris Gittens is a perfect example of this. At age 25, he is entering his prime and is poised to have a breakout season in 2023.

2. Position

First base is a unique position on the baseball field. It requires a player who is not only a good fielder but also a good hitter. First basemen need to be able to field ground balls and make quick throws to first base. They also need to be able to hit for power and average. In addition, first basemen often need to be leaders on their team.

Fielding: First basemen need to be able to field ground balls and make quick throws to first base. They also need to be able to scoop up throws from other infielders and make tags on runners. Good fielding first basemen can save their team runs and help to prevent errors.
Hitting: First basemen need to be able to hit for power and average. They are often counted on to drive in runs and help their team win games. Good hitting first basemen can provide a boost to their team's offense.
Leadership: First basemen are often leaders on their team. They are the ones who help to organize the infield defense and make sure that everyone is on the same page. Good leaders can help their team to stay focused and motivated.

Chris Gittens has all the tools to be a successful first baseman in the Major Leagues. He is a good fielder with a strong arm. He is also a good hitter with power and average. In addition, Gittens is a hard worker and a good teammate. He is the type of player that every team wants on their roster.

3. Bats

In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who can bat from both the left and right sides of the plate. This gives switch-hitters a significant advantage over pitchers, as they can choose to bat from the side of the plate that gives them the best matchup against the pitcher's handedness.

Advantage against pitchers: Switch-hitters have a significant advantage against pitchers because they can choose to bat from the side of the plate that gives them the best matchup. For example, if a switch-hitter is facing a right-handed pitcher, they can choose to bat from the left side of the plate, which gives them a better view of the pitcher's release point and allows them to hit the ball with more power.
Unpredictability: Switch-hitters are also more unpredictable than batters who only hit from one side of the plate. This can make it difficult for pitchers to develop a strategy against them.
Versatility: Switch-hitters are more versatile than batters who only hit from one side of the plate. They can be used in a variety of situations, such as pinch-hitting or playing multiple positions.

Chris Gittens is a switch-hitter, which gives him a significant advantage over pitchers. He can choose to bat from the side of the plate that gives him the best matchup, and he is also more unpredictable than batters who only hit from one side of the plate. This makes him a valuable asset to the Yankees, as he can be used in a variety of situations.

4. Throws

Right-handed pitchers have a natural advantage over left-handed batters, as the ball breaks away from the batter as it approaches the plate. This makes it more difficult for left-handed batters to hit the ball squarely, and it also gives right-handed pitchers a better chance of striking out left-handed batters.

For a first baseman, having a strong right arm is important for making accurate throws to first base. First basemen need to be able to quickly field ground balls and make quick, accurate throws to first base in order to prevent runners from reaching base. A strong right arm can also help a first baseman to make double plays and to throw out runners who are trying to steal second base.

Chris Gittens has a strong right arm, which makes him a valuable asset to the Yankees. He is able to make accurate throws to first base, and he can also make double plays and throw out runners who are trying to steal second base. His strong arm gives him an advantage over other first basemen, and it is one of the reasons why he is considered to be one of the Yankees' most underrated prospects.

5. Strengths

Chris Gittens is a Yankees' first base prospect who is underrated because of his combination of power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability. Power is important for a first baseman because it allows them to hit for extra bases and drive in runs. Fielding is also important for a first baseman because they need to be able to field ground balls and make accurate throws to first base. Switch-hitting ability is an advantage for a first baseman because it allows them to bat from both the left and right sides of the plate, which gives them a better chance of getting a hit against any pitcher.

Gittens has shown that he has all three of these skills. In 2021, he hit 9 home runs and 32 RBIs in 47 games with the Yankees. He also had a fielding percentage of .996. Gittens' switch-hitting ability gives him an advantage over other first basemen, as he can bat from either side of the plate and is more difficult for pitchers to match up against.

Gittens' combination of power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability makes him a valuable asset to the Yankees. He is a young player with a lot of potential, and he could be a key contributor to the team's success in the future.

6. Weaknesses

Chris Gittens has some weaknesses that could prevent him from reaching his full potential. One weakness is that he strikes out a lot. In 2021, he struck out 124 times in 356 plate appearances. This is a high strikeout rate, and it could limit his ability to get on base and score runs.

Another weakness is that Gittens is not a very fast runner. This could limit his ability to steal bases and to field ground balls in the field. In 2021, he stole only 1 base and was caught stealing 3 times.

Despite these weaknesses, Gittens is still a valuable prospect for the Yankees. He has a lot of power and he is a good fielder. If he can improve his strikeout rate and his speed, he could be a very good first baseman in the Major Leagues.

7. Ceiling

Chris Gittens has the potential to be an All-Star caliber first baseman. He has all the tools necessary to succeed at the highest level, including power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability. If he can continue to develop and improve, he could be one of the best first basemen in the Major Leagues.

One of the most important things for a first baseman is power. Gittens has shown that he has plenty of power, hitting 9 home runs in just 47 games with the Yankees in 2021. He also has a good eye at the plate and a high walk rate, which means that he gets on base frequently.

In addition to his power, Gittens is also a good fielder. He has a strong arm and good footwork, and he is able to make accurate throws to first base. He also has good range and is able to field ground balls in the hole.

Finally, Gittens is a switch-hitter, which gives him an advantage over other first basemen. He is able to bat from both the left and right sides of the plate, which makes it more difficult for pitchers to match up against him. This gives him a better chance of getting a hit and driving in runs.

If Gittens can continue to develop and improve, he has the potential to be one of the best first basemen in the Major Leagues. He has all the tools necessary to succeed, and he is still only 25 years old. The Yankees are excited about his potential, and they believe that he can be a key contributor to their team in the future.

8. Outlook

The outlook for Chris Gittens is very positive. He is still only 25 years old and has already shown that he has the potential to be a very good first baseman. He has power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability, which are all important skills for a first baseman to have. If he can continue to develop and improve, he could force his way into the Yankees' lineup sooner rather than later.

One of the reasons why Gittens is considered to be underrated is because he is not a very well-known player. He has not yet had a full season in the Major Leagues, and he has not had a chance to showcase his skills on a regular basis. However, if he can continue to perform well in Triple-A, he could earn a call-up to the Major Leagues soon.

The Yankees have a lot of competition at first base, with Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu both ahead of Gittens on the depth chart. However, Gittens could force his way into the lineup if he continues to perform well. He could also be used as a designated hitter, which would give him a chance to contribute to the team even if he is not playing first base.

Overall, the outlook for Chris Gittens is very positive. He has the potential to be a very good first baseman, and he could force his way into the Yankees' lineup sooner rather than later.

FAQs

The following are frequently asked questions about Chris Gittens, the Yankees' underrated first base prospect:

Question 1: Why is Chris Gittens considered underrated?

Answer: Gittens is considered underrated because he has not yet had a full season in the Major Leagues and has not had a chance to showcase his skills on a regular basis. However, he has shown that he has the potential to be a very good first baseman, with his combination of power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability.

Question 2: What are Gittens' strengths and weaknesses?

Answer: Gittens' strengths include his power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability. His weaknesses include his strikeout rate and his speed.

Question 3: What is Gittens' ceiling?

Answer: Gittens has the potential to be an All-Star caliber first baseman. He has all the tools necessary to succeed at the highest level, including power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability.

Question 4: What is the outlook for Gittens?

Answer: The outlook for Gittens is very positive. He is still only 25 years old and has already shown that he has the potential to be a very good first baseman. He could force his way into the Yankees' lineup sooner rather than later.

Question 5: What are the challenges that Gittens will face in order to reach his full potential?

Answer: The main challenges that Gittens will face in order to reach his full potential are improving his strikeout rate and his speed. He will also need to continue to develop his power and fielding skills.

Summary: Chris Gittens is a very promising first base prospect for the Yankees. He has the potential to be a very good player, but he will need to continue to develop and improve in order to reach his full potential.

Transition to the next article section: In the next section, we will take a closer look at Gittens' performance in the 2023 season and discuss his chances of making the Yankees' Opening Day roster.

Conclusion

Chris Gittens is a very promising first base prospect for the Yankees. He has the potential to be a very good player, but he will need to continue to develop and improve in order to reach his full potential. His combination of power, fielding, and switch-hitting ability gives him the potential to be an All-Star caliber first baseman.

Gittens will face some challenges in order to reach his full potential, including improving his strikeout rate and his speed. However, he is still only 25 years old and has already shown that he has the potential to be a very good first baseman. The Yankees are excited about his potential, and they believe that he can be a key contributor to their team in the future.