Less than two weeks after his Bronx Bombers debut, Jake Bauers crushed an opposite-field dwelling run into the Yankee Stadium bullpen past the wall in left-center — a uncommon feat for a left-handed hitter.
That 420-foot blast on May 9 captured the eye of Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone, who has continued to lean increasingly more on the 27-year-old journeyman within the months since.
Originally known as up in late April to assist fill the Yankees’ left-field void, Bauers not too long ago returned to his authentic place of first base within the sudden absence of Anthony Rizzo, who’s out indefinitely with post-concussion syndrome. Saturday’s sport towards the Houston Astros marked Bauers’ third consecutive begin at first after Rizzo went on the injured checklist Thursday.
“He’s been really good,” Boone mentioned Saturday of Bauers. “Kind of been a revelation for us, and I think a very interesting player moving forward.”
“I didn’t necessarily see this coming,” the supervisor continued. “He got off to a tremendous start at Triple-A. All the reports were, ‘This is real and he looks really good.’ He’s come up and really impacted the ball and had really consistent, quality at-bats. He’s a real threat in the box and I think he’s got a bright future.”
Indeed, Bauers adopted up a powerful spring coaching with 9 dwelling runs in his first 21 video games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He joined the Yankees for an April 29 street sport towards the Texas Rangers, throughout which he departed within the first inning after crashing into the left-field wall on a sliding catch.
Bauers prevented critical injury to his proper knee and has since delivered his share of harm on the plate. He hit his tenth dwelling run of the 12 months Friday night time towards Houston and has batted all through the Yankees’ lineup this season, together with main off Saturday.
Boone mentioned Bauers didn’t instantly soar out to him at spring coaching, throughout which he collected 11 hits in 27 at-bats, however shortly impressed after his call-up.
“You saw it in his batting practice, then he was getting some results in the games,” Boone mentioned. “He hits that ball into our bullpen in left-center. It’s like, ‘That’s different.’ He’s kind of shown what he’s capable of doing.”
Bauers debuted with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, primarily taking part in first base that season. He later suited up with Cleveland and Seattle earlier than signing a minor-league contract with the Yankees final 12 months.
That April 29 sport was his first within the main leagues since 2021. Before his Yankees debut, Bauers attributed his torrid play at Triple-A to discovering new methods to deal with success, failure and adversity.
“Getting out of my own way. Kind of figured out myself mentally a little bit, and that allowed me to figure out myself physically,” Bauers mentioned in April. “I feel like I’m just in a good spot right now and I’m not looking to really change anything.”
JUDGE RETURNS TO RIGHT
Aaron Judge returned to proper discipline Saturday, marking the primary time he performed the place in per week and the second time since coming back from an injured massive toe that stored him out practically two months.
Judge, 31, had been the Yankees designated hitter in six of the earlier seven video games he began since coming off the injured checklist on July 28. He didn’t begin Friday’s sport towards the Astros however pinch-hit within the seventh inning.
Boone expects to place Judge again at DH on Sunday and have Giancarlo Stanton return to proper discipline. Stanton, who was the DH on Saturday, performed proper discipline in Wednesday and Thursday’s video games.
YANKEES DISCUSS STRUGGLING SEVERINO
The morning after Luis Severino struggled by way of his newest loss, Boone mentioned the Yankees are nonetheless discussing whether or not the right-hander will make his subsequent begin.
Severino surrendered 5 runs in 4 innings Friday towards the Astros, dropping his report to 2-6 and inflating his ERA to 7.74.
“We’ve been discussing it for the last several days, even before this,” Boone mentioned Saturday. “His next [start] would be Wednesday ahead of the off day, so we’ll kind of see what it looks like as we get into that point.”
Asked Friday a few potential transfer to the bullpen, Severino mentioned he views himself as a beginning pitcher “right now” however steered he’s open to “whatever they need me to do.”
Nestor Cortes rejoined the Yankees rotation Saturday, however the pitching employees not too long ago misplaced Domingo German, who is probably going carried out for the season as he attends inpatient therapy for alcohol abuse.
“We’ve got to do what’s best for the team and for Sevy in trying to get him sharp with his execution,” Boone mentioned Saturday. “I think Sevy will do what he’s got to do and we’ll continue to work to try and get him consistent.”
LOAISIGA ON TRACK
Jonathan Loaisiga accomplished the ultimate step of his scheduled rehab Friday night time, placing him on monitor to rejoin the Yankees roster Monday.
The hard-throwing reliever, who underwent surgical procedure in May to take away a bone spur from his proper elbow, allowed two runs on 4 hits in an outing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, throwing 21 pitches.
“He’s here this morning, feeling good, feels ready,” Boone mentioned Saturday.
Loaisiga, who final pitched for the Yankees on April 5, could have Saturday and Sunday off.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com