The New York Yankees are looking to make their way back to the World Series this season. It all starts in spring training, though. Figuring out who will play what position and where players will bat in the order is very important. The Yankees seem to be trying every combination, as Ryan McMahon will be getting reps at a position other than third base before the regular season starts.
McMahon made his way to New York at the 2025 trade deadline. He went through a slump in the second half of the season, but the left-handed bat has a lot of potential. With that said, the Yankees will need to find a way to get him into the lineup.
Per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, McMahon could find himself at shortstop during spring training.
“Buddy Black threw me over there a couple of times [with the Rockies] but it’s not something I’ve done a bunch of. But I’m a ballplayer. I think I can go out there and catch the ball. We’ll see how
It will not be a whole lot of innings at the position. Nonetheless, New York will be trying him out at shortstop to see how he fares at the position and what the lineup might look like with him at shortstop.
Can Ryan McMahon Play Shortstop?
GettyRyan McMahon has played just three innings of shortstop in his career.
McMahon has played mostly third base in his career. But he has spent time at second base, while also playing a little bit of first base. However, the one-time All-Star has played a total of three innings at shortstop in his nine-year career.
That is not to say that McMahon is not capable of captaining the infield. In fact, he believes he could hold his own if given the opportunity.
“Buddy Black threw me over there a couple of times [with the Rockies] but it’s not something I’ve done a bunch of. But I’m a ballplayer. I think I can go out there and catch the ball. We’ll see how it looks,” McMahon said, per Hoch.
As for his defensive metrics, the 31-year-old was in the 92nd percentile in Outs Above Average (OAA) and 58th percentile in arm strength. He showcased a very good glove at third base last season, and his arm is strong enough to make those throws. On paper, McMahon should not have much difficulty playing shortstop if asked to do so.
It is important to note that McMahon is a much better third baseman than he is a second baseman (minus-5 OAA for his career). Second base, of course, is on the other side of the field, but the position did force McMahon to move around more.
McMahon will have to move around even more at shortstop. He might be better when forced to have quick reflexes and not range as far, which is what third base offers. Still, expect to see him for a few innings at shortstop this spring.
New York Yankees Current Shortstop Situation
GettyJosé Caballero will be the starting shortstop to begin the season.
Anthony Volpe is going to miss opening day and could be out for a month or two into the season. Backed by Aaron Boone, he will be the starting shortstop when he is healthy. But that will not be until mid-to-late April at the earliest.
José Caballero is expected to be the opening day starter at the position. Caballero was acquired via trade last season and played all over the field. This includes shortstop. In 2025, the 29-year-old finished with an OAA of plus-5 when playing shortstop. He also proved to have a very strong arm when needing to make the tough throws across the diamond (74th percentile in arm strength).
With Caballero more than capable of fielding the position, McMahon will not be forced to play shortstop. It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of playing there, but it is not something the Yankees need him to do.
Still, it is good to have options, especially when considering injuries and other factors. For now, McMahon’s innings at shortstop will come only in spring training.
Yankees Could Play Ryan McMahon at Surprising New Position During Spring Training