Sat Mar 29 17:20:00 UTC 2025: **Yankees’ Goldschmidt Leads Off with a Bang, Launches Three-Homer First Inning**
NEW YORK, NY – In a surprising lineup shakeup, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone placed veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the leadoff spot for Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, marking the first time in his career Goldschmidt has batted first. The move paid immediate dividends. Goldschmidt launched a home run to start the game, sparking a three-homer first inning that also featured blasts from Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge.
The decision to put Goldschmidt atop the order came against Brewers left-handed starter Nestor Cortes. While Boone experimented with Goldschmidt hitting leadoff in spring training, he had previously been noncommittal about using this strategy during the regular season. Boone indicated the decision was specific to this matchup and that the leadoff hitter could change in the future. He considered other options, including Anthony Volpe, the team’s leadoff hitter for 76 games in 2024, who batted fifth on Saturday.
Other notable lineup changes saw Austin Wells, who homered in the season opener, hitting sixth and Pablo Reyes starting at third base over Oswald Peraza. Lefty hitters Oswaldo Cabrera and Ben Rice were benched, with Jasson Domínguez as the designated hitter and Trent Grisham batting ninth.
Goldschmidt’s performance underscores the Yankees’ willingness to adapt their lineup based on opponent pitching matchups. While the long-term leadoff strategy remains unclear, the successful experiment against the Brewers certainly provides a compelling case for future consideration.
First Piper 