#Yankees’ Gerrit Cole set for final tuneup before Opening Day
“#Yankees’ Gerrit Cole set for final tuneup before Opening Day”
“He and I talked a little bit about it [Monday]. We just value having that sixth day going into his first start of the year,’’ Aaron Boone said via Zoom from Yankee Stadium, where his club worked out ahead of intrasquad games Tuesday and Wednesday. “We could have taken it now, felt like if we took it now he would be rolling into his Opening Day start on the fifth day coming off a time when we may be trying to push him a little bit.’’
James Paxton will pitch in an intrasquad game Wednesday and would be well-rested to start the second game of the season against the Nationals on July 25. Jordan Montgomery and Chad Green are the starters for Tuesday night’s intrasquad game at the Stadium.
If the Yankees focus on the disappointment of losing the ALCS to the Astros last October to motivate them during the upcoming 60-game season, their focus is in the wrong neighborhood.
“What we lost last year is in the past right now. Our mentality is for the short season, stay hungry. We have a mission and the mission is to win everything,’’ Gleyber Torres said Monday via Zoom. “That is the job right now and we look to get there.’’
Torres is not high on facing his own pitchers, but that is all that has been available to him and the rest of the Yankee hitters until exhibition games against the Mets on Saturday and Sunday and the Phillies on Monday.
In addition to seeing different pitchers, Monday night will mark the return of Didi Gregorius to The Bronx, where he will find Torres as his replacement at shortstop. The Yankees also will see Gregorius in the fourth and fifth games of the regular season in Philadelphia.
“We know Didi, he always has really good energy. He is competition and we get there and try to win the series and focus,’’ said Torres, who was close to Gregorius. “All the guys have a really good relationship with Didi right now, but when we go to the field we forget the relationship and do the job.’’
If DJ LeMahieu isn’t ready to play second base at the start of the season Torres doesn’t envision any difficulty playing with Tyler Wade at second base instead.
“One hundred percent comfortable. I know Wade from the minor leagues and we have really good communication and now it is like growing up together,’’ Torres said. “We talk about a lot of different situations. I think we are ready to play if DJ is not ready for Opening Day.’’
Rosell Herrera is nursing two bothersome heels, which could hurt the non-roster utility man’s chances of making the 30-man roster.
With the Yankees scheduled to open a 60-game season next Thursday in Washington against the defending World Series champion Nationals, anything is possible in a season unlike any other.
Though Deivi Garcia got to Triple-A last year when he traveled through three levels of the Yankees’ system, the right-hander appearing in a big-league game this season would likely mean the pitching staff suffered several health woes.
Yet, that didn’t keep the 21-year-old from staying in shape during the shutdown with the goal of joining the Yankees’ 60-man roster for spring training 2.0 in The Bronx.
“For me it was keep training and keeping myself in shape for that call because at any time it could arrive,’’ Garcia said via Zoom on Monday after facing hitters at the Stadium. “I managed to stay training waiting for that call.’’
Garcia, who worked out with his brother in the Dominican Republic during the shutdown, appeared in 26 games at Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A last year. After starting 15 games at the first two levels, Garcia made six starts and five relief outings at Triple-A
“The preparation is different and that is the biggest thing you have to adjust to,’’ Garcia said of the challenges going from starter to reliever. “Adjust to whatever is needed.’’
With no minor league season those not on the big-league roster will have to settle for workouts in order to remain sharp.
Asked what he considers a strength and what he needs to improve on, Garcia pointed to his fastball which helped him strike out 165 in 111 ¹/₃ innings.
“One of my plusses is the spin of my fastball. I have been told it is very good. One of the things I am working on now is being more aggressive in certain counts and using my secondary pitches,’’ said Garcia, who also explained being around the big leaguers has helped him develop a strong mindset.
Estevan Florial has played 149 games for Single-A Tampa the past two years due to a broken wrist bone last year and hamate bone surgery in 2018. When on the field the talented center fielder struck out 185 times against 140 hits. Cutting down on strikeouts is imperative for the 22-year-old.
“I am working with the hitting coaches to try to have a better strike zone,’’ Florial said of one way to cut down on the whiffs.
Like Garcia, Florial will have to stay ready with the other players not on the 60-man roster without minor league games.
“Right now the situation we are going through is real tough but we have great coaches around us to tell us what to do and get us ready,’’ Florial said.
Yankees and third-round pick second baseman/outfielder from Trevor Hauver from Arizona State have finalized a $587,400 deal which is the slot number for the 99th pick in last month’s draft. Hauver’s signing, leaves only fifth-round pick right-hander Beck Way, the third and final pick at 129 unsigned.
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