Why Matt Carpenter’s hot start is for real

Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesWhen the Yankees announced that they were signing Matt Carpenter to a major league deal, my first thought was one of puzzlement. Matt Carpenter as in the former-All-Star-turned-below-replacement-level-36-year-old Matt Carpenter? However, in his first seven games in pinstripes, he’s done nothing but win me and my fellow Yankees fans over.

Back in February, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic detailed Carpenter’s long road back to a major league roster spot after going unsigned in free agency following a career-worst year in 2021. Carpenter sought help from the likes of Joey Votto, Matt Holliday, and a Baseball Performance Lab to fix the elements that had broken…