#Luke Voit’s ‘authentic’ personality, health are invaluable to Yankees

TAMPA — Luke Voit struck out on Saturday and immediately afterward, with third-base coach Phil Nevin wearing a microphone for the YES Network telecast, Voit could be heard yelling a pair of expletives.

It’s part of what makes Voit stand out on this mostly staid Yankees team. The first baseman doesn’t hesitate to show his emotions or to speak his mind — and his teammates seem to appreciate it.

“I love it,’’ said DJ LeMahieu, who is on the other end of the excitability spectrum. “That’s authentic; authentic Luke right there. He’s emotional and at the same time, it’s him being himself. For me, I don’t show as much emotion, but for some guys, that drives them and helps their game. I love stuff like that. Just be yourself.’’

Since coming to the Yankees, Voit has done a good job of that and now he’s looking to build on what he did a year ago, when he led the majors with 22 homers in the COVID-shortened, 60-game regular season.

“It’s something that’s awesome, but then again it was obviously a shortened season, so everybody has speculation I can’t do it again,” Voit said. “So I’ve just got to prove everybody wrong. I’m not saying that I’m trying to hit 100 home runs or whatever. I’ve also got to stay within myself and get the job done when I need to.”

So far this spring, Voit is just 3-for-21, with two walks, seven strikeouts and no homers.

He also has yet to get his first extra-base hit during this Grapefruit League season.

Voit is noticeably leaner and is moving well at first base. Scouts that have seen him this spring aren’t concerned about how he looks at the plate.

“He’s a smart hitter and it looks like he’s working on some things,’’ one AL scout said. “He’s a guy that once he finds his swing, I think, will get going quickly.’’

Voit has made his presence felt in other ways, as well. That includes supporting Domingo German when he returned from his suspension, but adding the right-hander was “skating on thin ice.”

Last September, when the Yankees were reeling and had lost five straight games to drop to .500, it was Voit who took the team to task.

“We have to get back to what the New York Yankees are,” he said then. “I feel like teams aren’t really scared of us right now, and it is kind of a sad thing because we are the New York Yankees and obviously the favorite to win the division this year, and that’s obviously gone away, so we have to step it up.’’

The Yankees went on to win their next 10 games and they reached the playoffs.

More than what Voit says, though, it’s vital that he stay healthy.

He’s among the right-handed bats the Yankees are relying upon this year, as they look for Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to play full seasons and Gary Sanchez to bounce back from his horrific performance in 2020.

Voit was bothered by a core-muscle injury for most of the second half of 2019. Last year, he dealt with plantar fasciitis, which he and the Yankees referred to as “foot stuff” for much of the season.

He already has dealt with some left knee soreness this spring that caused him to sit for a game. When he returned, an awkward slide into third base caused his right knee brace to cut open his knee.

Manager Aaron Boone has cautioned Voit against trying to go “900 mph,” but he hasn’t changed his ways.