The Bombers have reported to a vital spring coaching. Positions are up for grabs and questions want answering.
Aaron Boone sat down for his opening press convention Wednesday in Tampa and added one other query to the record with Frankie Montas doubtlessly lacking your entire 2023 season after it was introduced the right-handed starter will bear shoulder surgical procedure on Feb. 21.
The Bombers are contemporary off being swept by the Houston Astros within the 2022 ALCS. GM Brian Cashman has introduced in a brand new face in Carlos Rodon — who reported to Tampa final week — and retained the face of their franchise in Aaron Judge in an try to shut the hole.
However, the vast majority of the roster options acquainted faces from final season. With a few of these gamers anticipated to compete with prospects pushing by means of, the configuration of the membership might look vastly completely different with loads of positional inquiries to be answered.
STARTING WITH VOLPE?
Anthony Volpe arrived in Tampa in November shortly after receiving a name from Cashman saying, per Michael Kay, that he has a authentic probability to be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop. The top-ranked shortstop and No. 5 prospect in baseball — in line with MLB pipeline — is among the causes the Bombers have held out of the elite free agent shortstop market of previous offseasons due to the Yankees’ perception of what he can develop into.
The 21-year-old will likely be competing with fellow farmhand Oswald Peraza and Isiah Kiner-Falefa starting in a couple of weeks. Bombers supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned he isn’t searching for something particular from the group’s high prospect
“If I feel like or he looks like the best option or that he’s ready to go do this then we wouldn’t be averse to doing that,” Boone mentioned. “But I don’t think he has to do this, this or that, you got to watch and it will show itself. … Obviously Anthony, we think is going to be great player in this league.”
Volpe, the 2021 pipeline hitter of the 12 months, slashed .249/.342/.460 with 21 homers and 50 stolen bases final season. He was the primary minor leaguer since Andruw Jones in 1995 to hit 20 homers and steal 50 bases.
GLEYBER’S OUTLOOK
Gleyber Torres has been a subject of controversy because the Yankees rumored deal to land Pablo Lopez fell by means of eventually season’s commerce deadline.
Comments from Yankees normal companion Hal Steinbrenner this offseason haven’t precisely put out the fireplace as he said that he intends to see the prospects — Volpe and Oswald Peraza — up the center this season.
Boone nonetheless expects Torres to play a vital function for the Bombers as he did final season.
“I expect him to be a really impactful player in the middle of our lineup,” Boone mentioned. “I think in a lot of ways he had a really good and strong year last year. We have a guy that’s got a ton of experience that’s had a ton of success and has had some bumps in the road on the way too.”
The skipper added that he believes Torres is his second baseman going into the season however acknowledged the membership has loads of infielders. Torres slashed .257/.310/.451 with 24 homers and 76 RBI final season.
NESTOR INJURY NOT SERIOUS
After backing out of the World Baseball Classic attributable to a hamstring damage, Nestor Cortes remains to be on monitor to be prepared for Opening Day. The southpaw has continued to run and throw and is anticipated to ramp up a bit this upcoming weekend.
“He’s been able to kind of keep it going,” mentioned Boone. “Not too involved that it’s a long-term factor and I might anticipate him to most likely be able to go at first of issues.
“I think he’ll be pitching for us down here [in Tampa], it’s just a matter of how much volume can we get him up to. But long-term, I think we’re OK.”
Cortes is coming off of a profession season. The 28-year-old posted a 2.44 ERA in 28 begins for the Bombers final season even receiving some votes for the AL CY Young award. With Montas already down, shedding Cortes would doubtless sound the alarms on a staff that has been constructed round its beginning pitching.
LET THE DJ PLAY
DJ LeMahieu is again and is wholesome after his painful — for him and the Yankees — playoff absence attributable to a toe damage.
The 34-year-old opted to not get surgical procedure on the toe and the Bombers are inspired by what they’ve seen thus far.
”Yes, [he will start the season] on time, I’m actually enthusiastic about the place DJ’s at,” mentioned Boone. “Again, it’s one thing that we’re at all times taking part in shut consideration to. But he’s been in a fairly great place for some time, he’s been down right here for some time.
“He looks really good, he’s moving really well, so I know he’s excited about it but we are as well. It’s obviously something we always have to pay attention to with him and be mindful of but pretty encouraged about where he’s at right now.”
The plan could also be to have Gold Glover roam round as he did final season between first, second and third base. The Bombers have at all times shuffled their every day lineup round LeMahieu’s versatility and don’t appear to be planning to vary that.
The utility man hit .261/.357/.377 with 12 homers in 125 video games final season. LeMahieu was penciled in as Boone’s leadoff hitter for almost all of final season and with few choices on the roster to fill that void, he seems to be the favourite to take action once more in 2023.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com