TAMPA — Giancarlo Stanton Ready for Regular Season
With Opening Day just around the corner, Giancarlo Stanton seems eager to jump straight into the action. Over the past couple of days, the Yankees’ veteran designated hitter has been performing, looking as if he’s gearing up for a major game.
“If only we could pack this in and move north…” manager Aaron Boone joked following the team’s 5-4 victory over the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field. “He looks great and feels great, of course.”
In just two days, Stanton managed to put six balls into play.
Impressively, five of those recorded exit velocities topping 100 miles per hour. Boone speculated that if the wind hadn’t been an issue, Stanton might’ve cleared the fence more than once.
“He’s probably hit five home runs recently, likely due to the weather,” Boone noted.
On Thursday, Stanton finally launched a ball, hitting a 160.1 mph drive down the right field line for his fourth home run this spring. The day before, he had several significant flyouts, hitting at 112.4 mph and 164.1 mph, and also made good sacrifices with balls at 110.5 mph and 164.8 mph.
Max Fried made his final preparations for the upcoming season opener against the Giants on Wednesday, allowing three runs and four walks over five innings while throwing 81 pitches. Though he admitted he wasn’t “as sharp,” he felt relieved to work through a challenging situation before the big game.
“I know who I am and what kind of pitcher I am, but the more I push myself, the better it helps me in the long run,” Fried mentioned.
Carlos Rodon took another step forward in his recovery from elbow surgery, throwing two innings and 35 pitches in a live batting practice session on Thursday. “Physically, I’m fine,” he stated. “I’m just in the process of getting my feel back with each session. Sure, I want everything to go smoothly, but it’s tricky to achieve that after surgery. So, I just go with it and try not to get too frustrated.”
Rodon plans to pitch in a minor league exhibition next week as the Yankees head west to open their season.
Aaron Judge is set to make his return to the DH position on Friday against the Orioles, marking his first game back since participating in the World Baseball Classic.
Meanwhile, Paul Goldschmidt, who had limited at-bats for Team USA, faced Rodon for a live at-bat before going 1-for-3 against the Orioles an hour later.
Cody Bellinger was initially slated to play against the Blue Jays on Thursday, but he’s sidelined due to a right arm injury sustained in Wednesday’s game. Fortunately, he appeared to be in good spirits and showed no signs of discomfort while taking at-bats from Rodon.
In roster news, the Yankees have optioned reliever Angel Chivili to Triple-A, further trimming their bullpen competition. Chivili, who was acquired from the Rockies over the winter, is still developing after experiencing a rough spring with a 12.91 ERA in eight outings.
