SAN FRANCISCO -- It has been fewer than five months since Yankees general manager Brian Cashman pointed to what he believed to be a well-stocked stable on the 40-man roster, explaining why the team had little interest in adding to a group of six outfielders they were carrying at the time.

Flash forward to Friday's series opener against the Giants, and Thairo Estrada made the first professional appearance of his career in left field.

With Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton among those on the injured list, the Yankees are continuing to press their "B-Bombers" into duty. Estrada took fly balls earlier this week with outfield instructor Reggie Willits, and manager Aaron Boone said he believes the 23-year-old is capable of handling the task.

"It's a big vote of trust on the team, allowing me to play there and giving me the opportunity to play that position," Estrada said through a translator. "I believe in the work that I've done there the last couple days. I'll go out there and enjoy it and give it the best I have."

Boone said he wanted to get as many right-handed bats in the lineup against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner as possible, sensing Friday's series opener was the proper time to offer Brett Gardner a break.

"We're not in a normal situation right now with some of the things we're dealing with, so I feel like it's a good option," Boone said. "I feel like I really need to get Gardy one day on this trip, especially with that long game we had [Monday at Anaheim]."

Estrada, who collected his first Major League hit Tuesday, has played second base, third base and shortstop throughout a pro career that started in 2013. Estrada said he has felt comfortable in his new, unexpected role of chasing fly balls.

"You have to look at it with the objective that you have a job to do and the work that I've done is going to allow me to do that," Estrada said. "The training that was done out there has given me that opportunity."

Doing just fine

The Yankees continue to be encouraged by Miguel Andújar, who went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in an extended spring game Friday in Tampa, Fla., playing five innings at third base.

"I would say I still remain cautiously optimistic," Boone said. "We'll see how these next several days unfold and how he feels he can handle the workload defensively and get it across the diamond and what we're seeing there. The bat seems like no issue at all, so that's good news."

Andujar is scheduled to log at-bats as a designated hitter Saturday, take Sunday off and play in another extended spring game Monday. If that goes well, Boone said Andujar would join Class A Advanced Tampa on Tuesday.

"And if he continues to go well, there's a chance that he could be back with us next weekend," Boone said.

By the Bay

This marks the Yankees' second regular-season visit to San Francisco, and their first since 2007, when manager Joe Torre's squad dropped two of three games. The Yankees' pitchers of record in that series were Luis Vizcaino, Scott Proctor and Mike Mussina. Mariano Rivera recorded his 422nd save in the series opener.

Since the last time the Yankees took the field in San Francisco, all 29 other teams have played at least one series at the park. After the Giants departed the Polo Grounds in September 1957, New York and San Francisco met in the 1962 World Series, won by the Yankees in seven games.

"I love the game. The '50s and stuff kind of predates me a little bit, but certainly you're aware of some things in this series," Boone said.

This date in Yankees history

April 26, 2005: Alex Rodriguez hit three homers (all off Bartolo Colon) and drove in 10 runs in the Yankees' 12-4 win over the Angels at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez became the second Yankee to total 10 or more RBIs in a game, joining Tony Lazzeri, who still owns the American League record with his 11 RBIs on May 24, 1936, against the Philadelphia A's.