The New York Yankees are one of the world’s most famous sports franchises, so playing for them can be mentally challenging for some players. We’ve seen this recently with players like Sonny Gray, Carlos Rodon, and Joey Gallo all coming over to New York as star players and just flatlining under the lights of the Bronx.
However, there have also been many instances when players have come over to the Yankees and broke out from out of nowhere. There have even been players who were already on the team that blossomed in the blink of an eye (a few from recent years instantly come to mind). With that said, here are the five most surprising breakout seasons for the Yankees in the 21st century thus far.
Top 5 Yankees Breakout Seasons This Century
5. Joba Chamberlain
Perhaps more widely known as one of the biggest letdowns of the 2000s for New York, don’t forget that Joba Chamberlain had a very solid start to his career. Over his first two seasons in 2007 and 2008, the once highly-touted prospect put up a 2.17 ERA over 124 1/3 innings, starting 12 games out of his 61 appearances. He also accumulated a brWAR of 4.9, impressive for a relief pitcher.
Unfortunately, things went south very quickly following 2008. The Yankees tried making him into a full-time starter in 2009, but his ERA shot up to 4.75. He also led the league in hit-by-pitches that season. Things just weren’t the same for Chamberlain; and after 2013, he and the Yankees parted ways. He saw virtually no success in any of the following seasons that he spent with three separate teams, but his initial dominance from 2007 to 2008 still shouldn’t be forgotten.
4. Brett Gardner
Debuting in 2008, Brett Gardner was a part of the Yankees’ 2009 championship roster, which perhaps was what paved the way for a successful Yankees career. But notably, the left fielder was abysmal offensively for his first two seasons. Then, in 2010, the then-27-year-old put up a splendid breakout season for the Yankees. He put up a slash line of .277/.383/.379, stealing 47 bases and showcasing his outstanding defense.
Ranked by brWAR, this was Gardner’s best season of his career. He continued to play consistently solid defense and showed an ability to steal bases, racking up 274 of them total. He appeared in an All-Star Game in 2015 and won a Gold Glove in 2016. While he may be more of a fan favorite than a star player, Gardner’s 2010 season was one that skyrocketed him into a long and fruitful career in pinstripes.
3. Robinson Canó
The once-beloved second baseman started off his career hot with the Yankees, coming in second place in voting for AL Rookie of the Year in 2005. Despite this, nobody expected the level of success he saw in 2006. Across 122 games, Robinson Canó slashed .342/.365/.525 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI. This earned him a Silver Slugger at second base, but also a few secondary MVP votes.
While Canó went on to have even better years with the Yankees and the Seattle Mariners, his breakout in 2006 marked the beginning of a would-be Hall of Fame career. Unfortunately, Canó was caught using PEDs and suspended for the 2021 season, which likely ended his hopes of going to Cooperstown. But it can’t be denied that in his prime, Canó was one of the best Yankees and second basemen of recent memory.
2. Gary Sánchez
Getting into more recent territory, Yankees fans still haven’t forgotten the legendary run that Gary Sánchez went on in the latter half of 2016. On August 3rd, 2016, “El Gary” was summoned to the big leagues for the second time, and he went on a rampage that got him second place in AL Rookie of the Year voting, despite having only played 53 games. In those games, the catcher hit a whopping 20 home runs, driving in 42 and posting an OPS of 1.032.
It was a stretch of dominance that Sánchez wasn’t able to maintain, however. He was selected for two All-Star Games in 2017 and 2019, hitting 33 and 34 homers in those seasons respectively. His defense was never more than mediocre, though, and his bat was never able to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 season. Sánchez has since played for four other teams, all to varying degrees of success. As a result, his 2016 Cinderella run will likely be the most memorable part of his Yankee legacy.
1. Aaron Judge
Ironically, Aaron Judge followed Gary Sánchez’s 2016 with an even better breakout campaign. Judge has since done things much more monumental and remarkable, but his 2017 season is still one for the ages. In his rookie year, Judge led the American League with 52 home runs, then a major-league record for a rookie, also hitting .284 and leading the AL in runs (128), walks (127), and brWAR (8.0). Surprisingly, Judge lost out on the AL MVP to Jose Altuve, but this doesn’t discredit his accomplishments at all.
ALLLLLLLLLL RISE!
AARON JUDGE GAME-TYING HOME RUN ? pic.twitter.com/P2tQxBItoi
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This was only the more impressive because of how surprising it was. Judge wasn’t a top prospect, and scouts believed that his strikeout rate would always overshadow his power. For the most part, they were entirely wrong. Judge has been one of, if not the, best hitters in baseball since that magical rookie season. He has already hit 315 home runs, doing so faster than any other player all-time, and has won two AL MVPs. If he is able to overcome the narrative of being a postseason failure, he will certainly go down as one of the most legendary players of this century.
Photo Credit: © Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
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