Yankees need to cut down on strikeouts in 2026

Even in this era when the Yankees donâ€t win the World Series the way they once did, there are still truths about them that still hold. One is this: They are still the Bronx Bombers and can prove it, because they hit more home runs than anybody else this past season, 274.

They hit more than the Dodgers (244) and a lot more than the Blue Jays (191). It still wasnâ€t enough to get them back to the World Series, or past Toronto, which rolled them in four games in an ALDS — just like they rolled past the Yankees during the regular season.

But as the Yankees are about to reimagine their team for 2026 — but perhaps not dramatically just from what we heard from general manager Brian Cashman after the Blue Jays ended his teamâ€s season — they have to know that they are going to need more of a plan than just home runs.

Did the Dodgers hit more World Series home runs than the Blue Jays in the World Series? They did, hitting 11 to the Blue Jays†8. And we all know where that three-homer differential came from: The end of Game 7, when the Dodgers saved themselves and their season with three late-inning home runs: Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas and finally Will Smith.

But the reason why the Blue Jays came as close as they did to beating the Dodgers and winning it all, even with some homer theatrics from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., was because they were so balanced and versatile at the plate — from the top of John Schneider’s batting order to the bottom. And across the entire season, the Blue Jays didnâ€t strike out nearly as much as the Yankees did.

Itâ€s a problem for the Yankees. It just is. They struck out 1,463 times in 2025. Only the Rockies and Angels struck out more. The Blue Jays struck out 1,099 times, second fewest in the Majors. Even the Dodgers, free swingers themselves, struck out more than 100 times fewer than the 2025 Yankees did.

Check this out: The â€25 Yankees had nine players who struck out 100 times or more. That list includes Ryan McMahon, who struck out a whopping 189 times between Colorado and New York. And this list doesnâ€t include Giancarlo Stanton, who almost struck out 100 times (96) despite playing in only 77 games. But to Stantonâ€s credit, he at least finished with these very good numbers in those 77 games — 24 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .273 average and a .944 OPS. And, of course, Aaron Judge — who may be on his way to another MVP — struck out 160 times on his way to putting up more amazing and other-worldly numbers of his own.

Additionally, the Yankees had the sixth-highest strikeout percentage (K’s per plate appearance) at 23%. The league average was 22.2%. And both the Dodgers (21.9%) and the Blue Jays (17.8%) were below league average. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, had the lowest strikeout percentage in the Major Leagues with 17.8%. Not surprisingly, this comparison between the Yankees and Blue Jays held up in the postseason. The Yankees struck out 66 times in 60 postseason innings, averaging more than a strikeout per inning. The Blue Jays struck out 128 times across 167 postseason innings, averaging only .77 strikeouts per inning.

Obviously, hitting big flies worked for the Yankees until it didnâ€t against a Jays team that dominated them in the postseason the same way they had during the regular season. The Yankees won the same number of games as Toronto — 94 — and only lost out on the AL East title on tiebreakers.

By the way? The â€25 Yankees still got on base, they sure did. They were tied for second with a .332 OBP. So, too, did the Dodgers (fifth at .327) and Blue Jays (first at .333). One bottom line here is that itâ€s still possible to at least come close to what the Yankees accomplished offensively without striking out so much.

But itâ€s just way too much striking out for the Yankees, and that means up and down the lineup. It doesnâ€t mean they need a massive overhaul, theyâ€re the Yankees, thatâ€s never going to happen. But Anthony Volpe struck out 150 times this season while ending up with a batting average of .212. Jasson Domínguez had only 381 at-bats, but he still managed to strike out 115 times for a team whose organizational philosophy clearly begins with swinging for the fences. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Trent Grisham both put up some terrific numbers. But Chisholm struck out 148 times and Grisham struck out 137 times. Austin Wells, the Yankees’ catcher, who had a .711 OPS, struck out 118 times. He hit the first pitch he saw from Jays closer Jeff Hoffman in Game 4 with the bases loaded and flied out to left. It was the biggest out of that game, and one that effectively finished his team.

If the Yankees were still watching the Blue Jays closely after the Blue Jays beat them they have to know that they need more bat-to-ball guys, absolutely. Iâ€m not saying they could swing a trade for somebody like the Guardians’ Steven Kwan, but the Yankees need more guys like him. More guys like the Blue Jays†Ernie Clement, a total postseason star. We know what Plan A is for the Yankees. They just need a better Plan B when the ball stays in the yard.

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