The Hype Of "LUUUKE"

  Back in 2018, the New York Yankees acquired first basemanLuke Voit from the St. Louis Cardinals' organization and all things considered, the acquisition was worth every single penny. Instantly he became a fan favorite as the New York base faithfully admired his home run ability and his celebrations with his teammates.

   It was an instant match between a championship enriched team that could of used another player and an athlete that played with pop that was hungry to find consist at bats upon a major league roster.

    In his career, he went through a lot to gain the success that he has compiled over the years in the world of baseball. Quite frankly, his journey was long and tough at times, but all the hardship paid off because it all has lead to him wearing pinstripes.

  Injuries cut his 2019 season short, but Voit went on to share playing time with Mike Ford and DJ LeMahieu upon returning to the Yankees lineup. However, Voit couldn’t seem to figure things out, and his poor performance during the stretch as the Yankees headed toward the playoffs cost him a spot on the postseason roster. Nevertheless, when baseball returned from this virus in 2020, Voit did put together a decorated season that benefited him on the defensive and offensive fronts.

  Obviously it was a while before Yankee fans got to break out the “LUUUKE!!!” chants again, but the chance to do so eventually came around. Voit’s 2019 MLB season was not terrible despite losing his job late in the season due to injuries and inconsistency. He played in 118 games, and during the season; Voit collected 113 hits, 21 home runs, 62 RBIs, and posted a .263 batting average. It is pretty obvious of why he has his own chant coming from the fans across the Yankee nation.  

  Yes, Voit had troubles later in the 2019 year, but with the dedication that he has to his craft, there was never a doubt that  he wasn't going yo be ready for the return of baseball.

  Heading into Spring Training, Voit was looking to win back his job at first base. The numbers he put up during the shorten spring was a good start for a guy who was looking to channel his success from 2018. He made it easy for fans to believe if spring training was not canceled due to the corona virus, he would’ve had a dominating spring that would of lead him to a successful season.

  With all things considered, Voit has definitely proven his worth as the Yankees' first baseman of the future and it is most likely safe to say he is one of the best first basemen in baseball. 

  The uncertainty of finding a first baseman to fill the void that Greg Bird created was finally filled. A big part of why the Yanks picked up  Voit was he had the credentials to be the everyday first baseman for the team.  When the team first signed him, the health factor was a big concern, but the  signing happened because the organization knew if he stays healthy, he would be capable of accumulating some high numbers on the offensive and defensive front of his game.

  Everyone was banking on the possibility that if Voit returned to his 2018 form and continued his 2019 performance on the field, the Yankees would benefit would ultimately have just one of their many assets back to remain dangerous. As a matter of fact, for the past few seasons, that essential is the set plan. It goes without saying that every season is a year that can’t be one that goes down as one where everyone in the Yankee universe is waiting for everyone to get back to their restored selves because we need to make an “All-In” championship run every season.

  As a championship run is the ultimate good every season for this championship enriched franchise, it should be reiterated that LeMahieu finished the 2020 season as the batting champion in the American League and Voit finished as the Yankees homerun champion. With that being said, those feats should not be taken lightly, after all the two Yankee hitters are now among some serious names in history. As a matter of fact, they made the 2020 Yankees the first team since the 1959 Milwaukee Braves (Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews) to feature both the Majors' homerun champ and batting leader. All thr more reason for the LUUKE CHANTS! to be out once fans are given the greenlight to enjoy a day in the ballpark again

  Even though the season is not yet underway, scouts and executives are weigh in on Voit's chance of leading MLB in homeruns again in 2021.

  Since joining the pinstriped squad, it is all about his mighty arms; his sleeveless shirts; and   his power numbers. It is fair to say that Voit's decision to leave the uncertainty of the  Cardinals  was the best decision for his career because he has so much opportunities to aspire towards as Yankee first baseman. As a member of the Yankees, he can actually unlocked that untapped potential of being a slugger that he never really got with the Cards.  

  Embracing the slugger's life led him to being able to be atop MLB with 22 homeruns in last year's pandemically fractured season. Voit certainly took the opportunity to relish in all the glory---and who could blame the guy for that?

  So naturally, with all that baseball bashing, the question arises in 2021:                   

"Can he do it again?"

  The answer? Well, it is an obvious "YES" and this is based on the the fact that he stays healthy with a potential of a 162 game season on the horizon. Obviously, it is no secret that baseball officials from around the American League had their two cent on the first baseman.

  “His swing has damage factors in just about every situation and it’s his priority,” added an MLB scout from an opposing club. “All he needs to do is make contact with that strength that he possesses...."

  With that information out there, it also worth noting that Voit, 30, became the first Yankee since Álex Rodríguez in 2007 to lead the Majors in homers. His 22 home runs were three more than runner-up José Abreu. As a side note, it is impressive that Voit's compiled homers were one more than the total he capped off at in 2019, which he happen to have 276 more plate appearances.

  Yes, 2020 was a very small sample of just how good Voit is at his game, but even in a 60-game setup, the Yankees' first baseman show off his talents to contribute to winning big games.

  Let's remember, this was a guy who was playing with everything on the line, given that he had just had core muscle surgery after the 2019 season, and he still emerged as a potent power threat in 2018 after the Yankees had acquired him from the Cardinals for two relievers.  That is no understatement at all because he put up the numbers to prove his worth. He accumulated a total of 14 homeruns and composed a 1.095 OPS for the Yankees in just 39 games and beyond that, Voit just stayed aggressive to get even better as an overall ball player.

  Voit wasted no time, he kept on working at his craft and managed to trim down his strikeout rate, which according to FanGraphs, he was whiffing in 23.1 percent of at-bats (the MLB average was 23.4 percent). In 2019, Voit’s K% was 27.8 percent. 

  Now, his swing and chase rate -- the percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside the strike zone -- jumped last year to 33.3 percent (the MLB average was 30.6 percent). In 2019, when Voit was beginning to get a reputation for controlling the strike zone, which was something the Yanks were encourage about, his chase rate was just 26.6 percent, according to FanGraphs, five points better than league average that season.

  When it comes down how the slugging first baseman was performing in the batters box, you also have to take a look at how he worked the batter's eye beyond his swing and chasing percentages. In 2019, his walk rate took a deep dive, as he walked 13.9 percent of the time in 2019. Then, his chase rate was just 26.6 percent, according to FanGraphs, five points better than league average that season.  

  Voit is very well aware of how unfortunate all those numbers makes his performance makes him look. With spring training is underway in preparation for the 2021 Opening Day of April 1st, the first baseman is working at incorporating more walking into his game and his determined to remaining very aggressive in the way he will produce in all aspects in his production on the baseball diamond.

  Certainly once he tweaks those adjustments, he will surely be a reinforcement that the Yanks can depend on to cause trouble for the opposition.