When the New York Yankees traded for Austin Slater in late July, the move felt like a subtle but strategic upgrade.

Slater wasn’t brought in to be a star—he was brought in to fill a gap, a quiet weapon against left-handed pitchers when matchups demanded precision.

But just as he was settling into pinstripes, a hamstring strain sent him to the injured list on August 5, derailing those plans almost instantly.

A brief but frustrating Yankees debut

Slater’s Yankees debut lasted just three games, a blink in the chaos of a long season.

He went hitless in seven plate appearances, never really having the chance to show why the Yankees believed in his role.

Injuries often feel cruel in baseball, especially when they rob players of proving their worth at the exact moment opportunity knocks.

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