TAMPA, Fla. – As someone who has spent lots of time facing simulated pitchers on the Yankees’ Trajekt machine, Giancarlo Stanton appreciates the technology of being able to load up any arsenal in the league with a few taps.
There’s still no substitute for the real thing.
Making his spring debut on Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Stanton ripped a 114.3 mph single to left field in the Yankees’ 11-1 exhibition victory over Team Panama, highlighting what he called “a nice prototype first day.”
“Nothing, at the end of the day, is like seeing a live arm,” Stanton said. “Being in a position in a game with fans, that extra – you can’t simulate. You can visualize it, but until you do it, it’s different.”
Nothing has changed regarding Stanton’s epicondylitis in both elbows, which cut short his spring last year and limited him to 77 regular-season games.
Stanton has said that he will play through pain for the rest of his career, recently telling NJ.com that he cannot “open a bag of chips” without discomfort.
But he has learned how to be productive despite that, belting 24 home runs from July 2 on – the fourth most in the Majors over that span, behind only Kyle Schwarber (31), Cal Raleigh (27) and Shohei Ohtani (25).
“You’ve got to come in and make an impact,” Stanton said. “I just tried to be impactful right away and not worry about, ‘Hey, I only had this.’ Whatever. No one cares. Get it done.”
The feeling of his single Tuesday provides more valuable information than the exit velocity, Stanton said.
“Just squaring up a heater tells me where I’m at more than miles per hour,” Stanton said. “Pulling a heater, good timing, good adjustment from a couple of swing-throughs or foul-offs of heaters. That’s still the seesaw that’s normal right now.”
Said Max Fried: “It’s nothing new. We’ve been seeing it all spring. Yeah, it’s the first time he got in a game – same as me – but he’s been hitting the ball really hard all spring. He looks great.”
Stanton finished 1-for-2. He struck out facing Jorge Garcia in the first inning, singled and came around to score in the fourth against Erian Rodriguez and walked against Alberto Baldonado in the fifth.
Stanton is expected back in the lineup Thursday against the Twins.
“If the spring goes according to plan, where I’m essentially playing him in most of the home games and he’s getting between two and four at-bats, you’re looking at probably 30, 35 at-bats [before Opening Day],” manager Aaron Boone said.
“But he takes so many live at-bats when he’s out of sight. He’s getting what he needs.”
Max effort
Fried described his first spring outing as “definitely rusty, definitely out of sync,” frustrated by issuing three walks. Yet the final line was otherwise crisp – three innings, one soft hit allowed and one strikeout.
“Nothing can recreate getting into a game with an umpire and different jerseys,” said Fried, who tossed 30 of 56 pitches for strikes. “I was able to check the boxes.”
One of the walks had an unintentional benefit, placing José Caballero at first base in the third inning. Fried kept Caballero – the Majors’ stolen base leader last season – anchored there while striking out Allen Córdoba to end the frame.
“That was perfect,” Fried said. “First time in a game and having one of the best baserunners in baseball trying to play a little cat-and-mouse game. I’m paying attention to him and trying to hold him on, but also pitching and staying aggressive at the plate. I couldn’t have asked for a better matchup.”
Short story
After two days of preparation, Ryan McMahon made his first start of the spring at shortstop on Tuesday. It won’t be his last, even though he booted a fourth-inning Jose Ramos grounder, a play he acknowledged should have been made.
“I gained a little bit more respect for what these shortstops have to deal with on a daily basis,” McMahon said. “It’s fun getting out there. I botched one, but I feel like if I see that one a couple more times, it would be no problem.”
The Yankees are evaluating McMahon’s readiness at shortstop to create flexibility, especially early in the season as they wait for Anthony Volpe’s return from a left shoulder injury.
Caballero will likely open the year as the starting shortstop, but Oswaldo Cabrera is still yet to play in games. At present, three of the four bench spots seem assigned to J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario.
If McMahon is a capable backup at shortstop, that could open a spot for Randal Grichuk, who was signed to a Minor League deal last Wednesday.
“I definitely think he could handle it,” Boone said. “The arm really plays. He’s just so natural picking up a ground ball. It was good to get him out there.”