Isiah Kiner-Falefa does not like it, but he understands.
He was with the Rangers in 2018, when they shipped out established contributors such as Cole Hamels and the team’s focus became about the future.
Kiner-Falefa, who was then a rookie, benefited from everyday playing time.
Five years later, Kiner-Falefa had a chat this week with Yankees manager Aaron Boone as rookie infielder Oswald Peraza was called up.
Peraza is going to play every day, typically at third base, and Kiner-Falefa, who has been a valuable utility man but had settled in at third recently, is going to sit often.
The full-circle moment was a difficult one.
“Definitely tough and not what I wanted to hear,” said Kiner-Falefa, who did not play for a third straight game in the Yankees’ 6-5 loss to the Nationals in The Bronx on Thursday. “But at the same time, we are where we are in the season, I’ve been a part of this [before].”
Kiner-Falefa’s trajectory with the Yankees has been unpredictable and rocky.
He arrived in a March 2022 trade that cemented him as the everyday shortstop, a role in which he struggled — and eventually lost in the postseason last year.
He returned this season with no regular job but an expanded role.
Anthony Volpe took over at shortstop while Kiner-Falefa proved he could play center field and left field. He has appeared at every position apart from catcher and first base this campaign and has been the rare Yankees hitter who might have exceeded expectations.
Kiner-Falefa started slowly and was hitting just .198 on May 23. But as the rest of the lineup tanked soon afterward, he came alive. He hit .278 with a .732 OPS in the subsequent 63 games, rising occasionally to the top of the order because of his own hitting and the lack of hitting around him.
His OPS sits at .679. He regrets that it likely will fall below .700 this season, which was a personal goal of his, but the production has been welcomed particularly for a player with often infrequent playing time and evolving defensive positions.
“I felt like with the opportunities I got, I did a great job,” Kiner-Falefa said. “The biggest thing is it’s not easy to play sporadically, and I feel like I proved I can do that. A lot of guys, when they get in that situation, their numbers really drop.”
As the Yankees see what their younger options can do, the 28-year-old Kiner-Falefa said he will “soak in” his remaining days in The Bronx.
He grew up in Hawaii wanting to be a Yankee.
He has struggled and he has thrived in a chaotic tenure that now features his third nomination for MLB’s Heart and Hustle Award, presented to the player who “best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”
Kiner-Falefa received his first such nomination as a Yankee this week, saying it means “a lot,” especially because of the team’s history.
The same week, he learned he would likely would be a nonfactor for the final several weeks of his final season under Yankees control.
Kiner-Falefa reiterated he hopes he will be in The Bronx next year, but the free-agent-to-be will look around.
“I want to see what’s out there, but I would love to stay. I really would love to stay,” Kiner-Falefa said. “But I also want to play, too, so it’s a lot to think about.”