PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — “Skated to a different tie!”
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone was in excessive spirits after the Yankees closed their Grapefruit League schedule with a 6-6 tie in opposition to the Mets at Clover Park. Boone joked that the workforce might have set a brand new report for Spring Coaching ties, having reached an deadlock in 4 of their previous 12 contests.
However Boone clearly is not fazed by the string of unfavorable outcomes. He is aware of the group has larger fish to fry — first, the Marlins in an exhibition sport at loanDepot park on Tuesday, then chasing the all-elusive World Sequence ring that has evaded New York since 2009.
Nonetheless, every sport carries significance for final yr’s World Sequence runners-up, particularly for the plethora of gamers vying for roster competition as Opening Day attracts close to.
So, how are issues stacking up for these hard-working hopefuls?
The within scoop on the infieldThe prime of the Yankees’ infield depth chart is all however set — rife with a slew of names filled with starpower. You understand them: Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe. However what concerning the backside portion?
Ben Rice seems to be like a shoe-in, having wowed followers and employees alike with a formidable offseason bulk that has him hammering baseballs this spring.
“He’s killing the ball,” Boone mentioned of Rice’s current surge.
In the meantime, with Oswaldo Cabrera more likely to be the membership’s beginning third baseman, that leaves Oswald Peraza and Pablo Reyes vying for the remaining spots. Whereas Boone remained imprecise about his inklings, each names have been within the Yankees’ beginning lineup Monday afternoon in what might have been a last alternative to impress.
Reyes simply retains on hitting, going 3-for-3 with a house run to lift his spring common to .326 with a .488 slugging share. The 31-year-old, who performed with 5 groups earlier than signing with New York in November, has drawn Boone’s reward for his plate method and energy. And he confirmed off his potential for the latter with a second-inning huge fly off of A.J. Minter.
“Find it irresistible,” Boone mentioned relating to Reyes’ play. “Love how he’s appeared all spring. He had a few video games there the place he didn’t swing it nice, however round that, it’s been numerous actually good at-bats. There’s life within the bat. … He’s moved round, proven his defensive versatility, too. He’s finished an awesome job.”
The Yankees have been toying with Reyes within the outfield as properly, together with beginning Monday’s sport in proper discipline earlier than shifting to 3rd base.
Peraza, in the meantime, went 0-for-2 with a stroll whereas taking part in strong protection at shortstop.
“Lots [of the roster] we’re just about settled on,” Boone mentioned earlier than the sport. “You are simply ready on, industry-wise, issues can pop up — last-minute releases, opt-outs, trades, issues like that.”
How’d it go for ‘Stro’?Marcus Stroman gave up a few homers on the bump in his last Spring Coaching tuneup earlier than the common season. Regardless of the errors, he maintained the signature swagger and poise that made him a fan-favorite throughout his Toronto tenure.
The slip-ups got here on a pair of offspeed pitches that hung within the zone too lengthy, the latter of which was belted over the right-field wall by Pete Alonso with a 107.7 mph exit velocity, per Statcast.
“He took a extremely good swing on a slider, and hit it out to proper,” Stroman mentioned. “Pete’s extremely robust; that man’s an awesome hitter.”
Stroman went on to complete with 4 strikeouts whereas permitting simply these two runs over 3 2/3 innings.
“I don’t care; I wash it immediately,” he mentioned on bouncing again from errors. “Good inning, dangerous inning, wash. … I keep current.”
And he received an opportunity to current the dexterity that afforded him a Gold Glove Award in 2017, making a nifty barehanded play on a bunt.
“Don’t bunt on me,” he joked afterward.
Bullseye on the bullpenThe Yankees have made mass efforts to shore their bullpen, a hassle space at instances over the previous few seasons.
“Actually good observe report,” Boone mentioned of Yarbrough. “Good expertise, the power to present you size [or] additionally get shorter if he has to. So, I really feel like he can fulfill numerous roles, and form of protects us in numerous methods, particularly early on.”
Williams, in the meantime, tossed a scoreless inning Monday to complete his Grapefruit League slate with a 2.25 ERA and 5 strikeouts over 4 innings.
“Clearly, he is one of many sport’s nice closers,” Boone mentioned. “So to have the ability to add him to the combo, we’re excited to see what he’s going to do for us.”
