Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had a rough go of things to begin 2023, but he turned in his best performance of the season Thursday afternoon in the Yankees’ 9-3 win over the Angels.
The shortstop turned utilityman, who was playing center field, made not one, but two, spectacular diving catches, drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd at Yankee Stadium.
The first impressive grab came in the top of the fourth inning, when Hunter Renfroe hit a deep pop-up that floated into center field.
Kiner-Falefa initially started breaking back before he sprinted forward and laid out to make the catch for the third out of the inning.
“I looked up and all I saw was the sun and as it was coming down, I kind of saw [the ball] and picked it up at the last second,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I made it break from it and the adjustment from the last play I made against Philly, [when] I missed it and dove the wrong way. … I feel like I cleaned it up a little bit and was able to make the adjustment and come up with it.”
His second catch was even better.
Just an inning later, with runners on first and third, Taylor Ward sent a bomb to center field.
Sprinting into the sun field, Kiner-Falefa once more made an athletic snag — this time diving for a back-handed catch.
Though Luis Rengifo tagged and scored from third after the catch, Kiner-Falefa’s play saved another run from coming home for the Angels.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he and the rest of the coaching staff could already see the 28-year-old’s potential as an outfielder during spring training.
“We saw [natural instincts] and you know you have to see it translate in games but we were really encouraged by what we saw right away,” Boone said. “Today was tough sun out there. … That play on Ward … that was legit.”
Kiner-Falefa was also able to make a big impact with his bat.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the bases loaded, Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run single, giving him his first RBIs of the year and extending the Yankees’ lead.
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Kiner-Falefa, who is still batting just .139 on the season, has had some rough stints recently and has filled any role he can as he competes to stay on the major league roster.
He even pitched an inning last week in a blowout loss to the Twins.
After Thursday, center field may be his new calling, though Harrison Bader is about to begin a rehab assignment as he attempts to return from an oblique strain.
“It feels good,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Putting a lot of work in, making some adjustments, and just trying to help the team.”
