Isiah Kiner-Falefa is starting to feel at home in the Bronx

This is the first homestand when Isiah Kiner-Falefa has really felt at home. The infielder was traded twice in spring training, ending up in Tampa without his cars or much luggage. Adjusting to new teammates was the task in spring training, coming to New York was a whole different world.

But he finally feels comfortable.

“I am able to turn off the map when I am driving to the ballpark,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I kinda know where I am going, so that feels good.”

You can see the difference. After starting the season 1-for-17 and bobbling some balls at shortstop, Kiner-Falefa has been a steady presence on defense and in the lineup. Despite having his 15-game streak of reaching safely being snapped in Toronto and going 0-for-2 with a season high two walks on Sunday, Kiner-Falefa is confident about where he is and how he fits in.

He has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 games since April 14, including seven multi-hit games, batting .349 with 13 runs scored, five doubles, seven RBI, six walks and two stolen bases. He has reached base in 16 of his last 17 games.

That came after he started the season 1-for-17.

“I wanted to make a good impression in New York,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I really wanted to do that right away. It was hard though.”

Just getting settled in New York and finding his way to the ballpark had been hard for Kiner-Falefa. He spent the lockout unsure where he would play. The Rangers had signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, so he thought he’d probably be the third baseman, but had no solid confirmation from the Rangers until the labor disagreement was settled. Then he was dealt to the Twins.

“I was heading to spring training in Arizona and the Twins had an early-season stop in Dallas, so I figured I would leave my (winter) clothes home and pick them up when the Twins came in,” Kiner-Falefa said. “But then I got traded again and I didn’t really have much clothing. I had some Lululemon stuff. I didn’t have an apartment. And really no idea where I was going to go.

“Thanks to my girlfriend and the Yankees, we figured it out and I am really glad to be here.”

Now, Kiner-Falefa is making a great impression with New York and the Yankees fans. He’s in the 83rd percentile in outs above average at shortstop, a vast improvement from last year. He’s slashing .288/.337/.363 with seven RBI and two stolen bases.

This weekend, Kiner-Falefa admitted that this series was another point he wanted to make a big impression, facing the Rangers. That may have had him pressing Sunday, but he still got on base twice.

“I want to beat them, this is all about competition,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I want to bury them. I mean I am grateful that they traded me and gave me a chance to play for my dream team. They could have kept me and I could have been in last, but I want to beat them.”

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/pw6hlnZ