Thriving in new position
Kiner-falefa is understanding, producing in another role
NEW YORK — When Jose Trevino found out that the Yankees were going to have Isiah Kiner-falefa play the outfield in spring training, the catcher hardly seemed surprised.
“Izzy’s the type of guy that, you tell him to run through a brick wall, he’ll ask you, ‘Which one?’” Trevino said at the time.
A teammate with the Rangers and Yankees, Trevino came up through the minors with Kiner-falefa. He watched as the middle infielder adjusted to third, tried his hand at the outfield and learned to catch as a prospect. Kiner-falefa even spent four innings playing first base at Double-a, but the catching experience helped him stick in the majors, as he spent 73 games receiving for Texas from 2018-19.
The Rangers needed a backup backstop, and Kinerfalefa eagerly took the job.
“He embraces everything,” Willie Calhoun, another past and present teammate, said after Kinerfalefa hit a walk-off single against the Padres on Saturday.
“It’s fun to watch, and he’s always been that way.”
Kiner-falefa took the same approach in camp this year when it became clear he would lose the Yankees’ starting shortstop job. He held that position last season, his first in pinstripes, but his defense hurt the team, and prospect Oswald Peraza started a few playoff games over the veteran.
Anthony Volpe ultimately won the shortstop gig this spring, but the Yankees asked Kiner-falefa to learn the outfield and prepare for a super utility role well before the rookie made the team.
“I don’t think my numbers last year were good enough to hold the spot,” Kinerfalefa recently said of shortstop. “So it is what it is. I didn’t do good enough last year. I was given another opportunity to be here, so I’m just trying to do everything I can to show what I can do and prove why I’m
here.”
Entering Monday, Kinerfalefa has spent 202 innings between all three outfield positions and 61 innings at the hot corner. He also logged a scoreless inning of relief in a blowout loss on April 13, and he’s practiced behind the plate for emergency situations.
“What a gamer. He’s played multiple positions now. Hasn’t complained once,” said DJ Lemahieu, who is no stranger to versatility. “What a great teammate and great guy to have on the team.”
Kiner-falefa has actually played every position except for first at the major league level. He considers that a badge of honor.
“I love this game. I love being a baseball player,” Kiner-falefa said. “It doesn’t need to be one position. It doesn’t need to be just shortstop, just second. I like to be called a baseball player. So I
feel like the more positions you play, the more of a baseball player you are, so that’s kind of what I like to do.”
In addition to improving in the outfield, Kiner-falefa has also found some success at the plate while typically playing against lefties and some hard-throwing righties. Considered a light hitter with strong contact skills, the right-side swinger has enjoyed a bit of a power surge lately, entering Monday with a .292 average, five extra-base hits – including three home runs – and six RBI over his last nine games.
For comparison, Kinerfalefa hit .182 with two doubles and two RBI over his first 30 games.
“I’ve noticed in batting practice, he’s actually driving the ball more,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s been putting together some really, really impactful at-bats over the last several starts.”