LAKELAND, Fla. — For the primary time during this spring training, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has played a position apart from shortstop.
He began Friday at second base against the Tigers, will achieve this again on Saturday after which will move to 3rd base in his next game.
Though the Yankees are having each of the players competing for the shortstop job play other positions in camp, and demand they’re removed from making any decisions, Kiner-Falefa appeared like someone who was beginning to read the writing on the wall.
“That’s three in a row moving around,” Kiner-Falefa said after he went 2-for-3 with a house run and stolen base at Joker Marchant Stadium. “I don’t have the desire to make an excessive amount of of it, nevertheless it’s definitely something.”
Manager Aaron Boone said before the sport that Kiner-Falefa could also get some work within the outfield during camp to further expand his versatility and keep the Yankees covered in case of injuries just like the oblique strain that has sidelined center fielder Harrison Bader.
That versatility could come into play if Oswald Peraza or Anthony Volpe ultimately wins the shortstop job.
“I believe the 2 guys which are ready for the large leagues, pushing to the large leagues, are each shortstops,” Kiner-Falefa said. “So if something were to occur to anybody else on the team injury-wise or something, it wouldn’t be them moving. I feel like I’ve shown versatility in my profession to date and it’d be so much easier move for me to do it, to assist the team.
“At the tip of the day, I would like to be here and I would like to win. Whether it’s playing shortstop, utility … there’s a chance to win a World Series here and I would like to be an element of it.”
Kiner-Falefa last played within the outfield within the minor leagues.
He played 10 total games between center and left field from 2015-2017.
In the large leagues, he has also played third base (where he won a Gold Glove in 2021), second base and catcher.
“I’m full-go at shortstop, just in case something could still occur to another person,” he said. “But I understand the situation and that those players [Peraza and Volpe] are really good they usually might help our team.”
If Peraza or Volpe wins the shortstop job, Kiner-Falefa may be a trade candidate, especially now that the Dodgers and Rockies have already got lost their starting shortstops to injuries.
“It’s form of humbling that other teams would even be taking a look at me in our situation,” he said. “But at the identical time, if I don’t win the shortstop job, I would like to be here. And I do know my probabilities of winning listed here are greater here than it could be elsewhere. In order that’s where my versatility is available in.
“That’s why I’m form of joyful that I’m capable of show it off the subsequent couple days because I would like a task on this team if I’m not playing shortstop. I even have a chance the subsequent couple of days to place myself in a task. If it’s not at shortstop, then possibly that enables us to carry on to me. It’s nothing I can control, but at the tip of the day, I’m taking a look at this chance to cement myself here.”