For the heirs of yesterday, like Cito Culver, this isn’t how the Yankees were supposed to be saved.
The youth movement overtaking The Bronx, with Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Aaron Judge mashing at Yankee Stadium and Gleyber Torres inching his way to center stage at Double-A, represents the reinforcements the Yankees have awaited for the better part of a decade. But this is not the extent of the cavalry: So many others have hit landmines on their way through the Yankees system.
Since 2009, the Yankees have drafted nine players in the first round. Judge, a 2013 choice, appears to be the real deal — and a glaring exception to the rule.