Ellsbury will likely hit first or second in the lineup this season. Ellsbury has typically served as a leadoff hitter in his career, amassing a .290/.342/.432 line from the top spot, but was forced to hit third much of last season due to injuries to the club's typical power hitters. He was still a threat on the base paths last year with 39 steals in 44 attempts, but if he's leading off he could come closer to the 50-steal mark his reached three times already. While Ellsbury has more experience hitting first, manager Joe Girardi indicated that he could elect to slot him in second behind Brett Gardner.