Donaldson went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in a Grapefruit League game against Detroit on Tuesday.
Donaldson hasn't hit particularly well this spring -- he has a .226/.314/.548 slash line over 35 plate appearances -- but Tuesday's performance gives him three long balls and eight RBI over 12 games. The veteran appears set to open the campaign as the Yankees' starting third baseman, but the team has plenty of infield depth should Donaldson struggle. He hit just .222 with 15 home runs over 546 plate appearances last season, but it's also worth noting that Donaldson slugged 26 homers and hit .247 the year prior, so he could still have some gas left in the tank.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Slow start in spring training
Rotowire
Donaldson went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts Saturday in a Grapefruit League contest against the Blue Jays.
It has not been a strong exhibition season for Donaldson, as the hitless effort sees the former MVP drop his slash to .200/.310/.360 in Grapefruit League play. The 37-year-old is expected to open the year as the primary third baseman for the Yankees, but with several quality infield options -- and Donaldson's poor play in 2022 -- his hold on that job is precarious.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Viewed as primary option at 3B
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he envisions Donaldson serving as the team's starting third baseman this season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Though the skipper noted that Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres will likely join Donaldson as the preferred starters at three of the infield spots, DJ LeMahieu is expected to rove between first base, second base, third base and designated hitter to maintain a near-everyday role. As a result, Donaldson could be at risk of sitting the most of the trio, given that he endured a rough 2022 campaign in which he finished with a .682 OPS and a 27.1 percent strikeout rate, his worst marks since 2012 and 2011, respectively. Donaldson still graded out well defensively at the hot corner, but his declining bat, advancing age and injury history still might make it difficult for him to match or surpass the 546 plate appearances he logged in his first season in New York.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: On bench for afternoon game
Rotowire
Donaldson will sit for the first of Tuesday's two games against the Rangers.
The Yankees won't ask many regulars to play two games in one day, as they're locked into the second seed in the American League regardless of what happens in their final three games. Oswaldo Cabrera will play third base in Donaldson's absence.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Heads to bench Friday
Rotowire
Donaldson isn't starting Friday against the Orioles.
Donaldson started the last three games and went 1-for-13 with two runs, an RBI and eight strikeouts. DJ LeMahieu will start at third base and bat fifth after being reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Donaldson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Donaldson started the past 12 games and will head to the bench after he posted an .864 OPS with three home runs during that span. Marwin Gonzalez will take over at the hot corner in Sunday's series finale.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Delivers walkoff single
Rotowire
Donaldson went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory over Boston.
Donaldson delivered a walk-off RBI single off righty reliever Kaleb Ort with nobody out in the 10th. The third baseman has recorded one hit or more in 11 of his last 12 games with a .962 OPS over 55 plate appearances during that span. In addition, the 36-year-old has tallied eight RBI over his last 11 games.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Goes deep again Saturday
Rotowire
Donaldson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to Milwaukee.
New York managed little offense against the combination of Brandon Woodruff and Devin Williams, but Donaldson ensured that the team didn't get shut out with his solo homer in the fourth inning. The long ball was his second in as many days and his third over his past six games. Donaldson still has just 15 homers on the campaign and has struggled with a 26.4 percent strikeout rate, which is on pace to be his worst mark over any full season in his career.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Homers, drives in three
Rotowire
Donaldson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two additional RBI in a 7-6 loss to the Brewers on Friday.
Donaldson's game-tying homer off Taylor Rogers in the top of the ninth was his 14th long ball of the season. The veteran third baseman is now slashing .212/.325/.394 with two home runs over 33 at-bats in September.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Homers in return
Rotowire
Donaldson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's win over Tampa Bay.
Donaldson nearly had two long balls in his return from the paternity list -- his shot off the top of the right-field wall in the first inning ended up a long single after review. Regardless, it was a nice afternoon for Donaldson, who was in the cleanup spot for his first game back.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Back in action Saturday
Rotowire
Donaldson was reinstated from the paternity list and is starting Saturday against the Rays, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Donaldson missed the Yankees' last three games following the birth of his child, but he'll start at third base and bat cleanup Saturday. Over his four games since the start of September, he's gone 2-for-13 with an RBI, three walks and five strikeouts.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Placed on paternity list
Rotowire
Donaldson was placed on the paternity list Wednesday, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.
Donaldson has been in a bit of a slump over the last week and a half, hitting just .143 with a double, two runs, an RBI, five walks and nine strikeouts over his last nine games. He'll now spend a few days away from the team following the birth of his child. DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza are candidates to fill in at third base in Donaldson's absence, while Miguel Andujar will serve as the 29th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Not in Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Donaldson is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.
Donaldson does not sit much, but manager Aaron Boone decided it was best to give him a breather Monday night. DJ LeMahieu will man the hot corner in Donaldson's place.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Posts big stat line Thursday
Rotowire
Donaldson went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a walk, four runs and three RBI in a 13-4 victory against Oakland on Thursday.
The bottom five in New York's order combined to go 12-for-25 with seven RBI in the rout, and Donaldson was at the forefront with a trio each of hits and runs batted in. The veteran third baseman had been struggling mightily entering the contest, going 6-for-44 (.136 average) over his previous 13 games. Donaldson's 12 homers on the campaign are disappointing given than he hit 26 long balls last season, but he's picked up 25 doubles, just one shy of his total last year.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Starting Monday
Rotowire
Donaldson (illness) is starting at third base and batting fifth Monday against the Mets.
Donaldson will return to the lineup after missing the last two games with a stomach ailment. The 36-year-old currently owns a four-game hit streak, batting .250 with a grand slam over that stretch.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Not ready to start Sunday
Rotowire
Donaldson (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Manager Aaron Boone will hand Donaldson a second straight day off while he recovers from a stomach ailment, though the veteran could still be available off the bench for the series finale. DJ LeMahieu will fill in for Donaldson at third base.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Scratched with stomach bug
Rotowire
Donaldson was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup against the Blue Jays due to a stomach bug, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.
Estevan Florial was added to the lineup with Oswaldo Cabrera shifting from right field to third base. Donaldson should be considered day-to-day.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Hits heroic grand slam
Rotowire
Donaldson went 1-for-4 with grand slam scored in Wednesday's victory over the Rays.
Donaldson hit a walk-off grand slam off lefty reliever Jalen Beeks with nobody out in the 10th inning. The 36-year-old is significantly better on the road with a .817 OPS and nine home runs in 192 at-bats compared to a .554 OPS and three home runs in 158 at-bats at home. Add this third baseman to the list of struggling Yankees as he has a .138 batting average and .241 slugging percentage in 29 at-bats during his last eight games.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Knocks four hits, drives in three
Rotowire
Donaldson went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 9-4 win over Seattle.
Donaldson put the Yankees on the board with a two-run single in the first inning and added a solo shot in the third, both against Logan Gilbert. The veteran third baseman has multiple hits in three of his last six games after producing just three multi-hit performances over his previous 20 appearances. During the small hot streak, he's knocked six extra-base hits with eight RBI and a 1.288 OPS, improving his season slash line to .231/.310/.405 through 364 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Josh Donaldson: Produces at plate
Rotowire
Donaldson went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a two-run home run and two total runs scored in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to Seattle.
Donaldson sent Anthony Rizzo home on a double in the fourth, then came around to score later that inning thanks to a Jose Trevino home run. Donaldson launched a two-run homer of his own in the sixth inning that scored Matt Carpenter and tied the game at 6-6. The third baseman is up to 10 homers on the year. Donaldson struggled in his last eight appearances in July, going 2-for-28, but he is 3-for-6 in two games to start August.
