It’s common to think of the Yankees as a playoff-tested team. After all, this is the eighth time in nine years that they’ve made the postseason under manager Aaron Boone. And a quick look at some of their regulars shows a lineup that varies between a little bit and a wealth of October experience. 

Player                                 No. of Career Playoff Games

Cody Bellinger                     76
Aaron Judge                        65
Paul Goldschmidt                29
Trent Grisham                      26
Jazz Chisholm, Jr.                 24
Austin Wells                          21
Anthony Volpe                     21
Amed Rosario                      11
Ryan McMahon                   10
Ben Rice                               6
José Caballero                     3

But a few names are missing from that list: Shortstop George Lombard Jr., outfielder Spencer Jones, first baseman Luis García Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. Those four have never played in the postseason, either with the Yankees or -- as is the case with García and Ramos -- with their previous teams.

Now, it’s possible that some of the injured veteran players -- Grisham and Chisholm, specifically -- could return to the lineup and send some of those new faces to the bench or off the playoff roster entirely. But it’s safe to say the Yankees are going to be counting on at least a few playoff newbies next month in their quest to win their first World Series since 2009.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his youngsters and playoff newcomers have another advantage over players who are coming of age in other markets.

“You play for the Yankees, you play in New York,” he said, “it has a way of getting you ready for the postseason.”

This has been something of a transitional year in the Major Leagues. Check out the first round of the 2023 Draft if you want proof. No fewer than 19 of the 37 first-round and sandwich picks have debuted, and many of them are already impact players with their teams.

“Players are getting to the big leagues at a very quick pace now and at a young age,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who has welcomed No. 3 pick Max Clark and AL Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle to Detroit this year. “I don't think they're as wowed by the big steps that they're taking.”

For the Yankees, that class includes Lombard, who has acclimated nicely since being called up in early August. And Jones was recently lauded by none other than Aaron Judge, who said the rookie outfielder has “really evolved every single time he got called up, gotten a little bit better and a little bit better.”

Of course, there will be hiccups along the way. On Wednesday, Jones went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts and committed an error when he dropped a fly ball in center field. And Lombard couldn’t come up with a Victor Caratini grounder in the 13th that was ruled a single as the Twins walked off the Yankees.

But anyone who follows baseball knows bad days and bad plays are all part of the growth cycle of a Major League player. The key is to learn from them so you can limit them going forward. And all of it -- the good, the bad and the occasionally ugly -- helps prepare a young player for his first time playing in the crucible of October baseball.

The world is about to find out just how ready the young Yankees are. But Jones offered a bit of reassurance on Monday as he soaked up the post-clinch locker room celebration at Target Field.

“I think for us, we play better when the crowd gets louder,” he said. “I’m really excited for what’s to come.”