Yankees’ Struggles Continue: Can New York Turn It Around?

By Oliver Wiener June 26, 2025 09:26

The New York Yankees' 2025 season has been marked by struggles that have left fans and analysts alike wondering: Can the Bronx Bombers turn it around? Despite a promising start and a roster filled with talent, the team has experienced offensive slumps, key injuries, and underperformance that have cast a shadow over their campaign.

A Season of Offensive Woes

The Yankees' offense has been in a slump not seen since 1990. Over a recent five-game stretch, the team scored just five runs with a .462 OPS, a historic low for the franchise in over three decades. Even with the return of Giancarlo Stanton, their lineup has failed to produce consistent runs. In a recent 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Yankees left the bases loaded in the 11th inning, underscoring their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Aaron Judge, the team's star outfielder, has maintained a strong individual performance with a .377 batting average, but the rest of the lineup has struggled to provide support. Cody Bellinger, brought in to bolster the offense after Juan Soto's departure, has been a major disappointment. Hitting just .177 with a 26% strikeout rate, Bellinger's slow start has forced manager Aaron Boone to consider lineup adjustments. Boone remarked, “I’ll take everything into consideration… I still expect him to hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup. But yes, you can always adjust things as you progress”.

Young Talent Under Pressure

Shortstop Anthony Volpe, once a promising prospect, is currently mired in an 0-for-24 slump, prompting the team to consider giving him rest and a mental reset. The infield as a whole has underperformed, with some former top prospects facing the possibility of being cut due to their inability to contribute effectively.

Managing Through Adversity

The Yankees' manager, Aaron Boone, has emphasized the importance of hunger and resilience in the face of adversity. Reflecting on the team's devastating Game 5 meltdown in the 2024 World Series where they blew a five-run lead in a home elimination game Boone said, “It’s not just a given. The early indications tell me I do think we have an edge to us, a purpose to what we’re doing. But it’s early. We gotta live that”.

Players like Jazz Chisholm Jr. have echoed this sentiment, expressing a renewed hunger to overcome past failures. “When you mess up a couple of times in one game, especially in the biggest game of the year, it sucks,” Chisholm said. “Then that brings in the hunger for this year. Everybody’s locked in”.

Pitching Holds the Line

While the offense struggles, the pitching staff has shown moments of brilliance. Clarke Schmidt recently delivered a strong outing, pitching 7.2 innings with no walks and only three strikeouts, keeping the Yankees in contention despite the lack of run support. However, the loss of ace Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery has left a significant hole in the rotation, further complicating the team's efforts to stabilize.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees remain atop the American League East at 42-29, but their recent four-game losing streak highlights the urgency for change. Boone’s willingness to tweak the lineup and give players like Bellinger and Volpe opportunities to reset could be key to sparking a turnaround. The front office, led by Brian Cashman, continues to explore roster moves to bolster the team’s depth and balance, aiming to avoid another postseason disappointment.

In a sport defined by failure and resilience, the Yankees’ 2025 season is a test of character. With a blend of veteran leadership, young talent, and strategic adjustments, New York has the pieces to recover. But as Boone and his players acknowledge, the hunger to win must translate into consistent execution on the field if the Yankees are to reclaim their place among baseball’s elite.