TAMPA — Juan Soto made his first appearance at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, and it’s about to get real.
The day before position players reported to camp, the Yankees’ new superstar walked through the clubhouse in the morning, taking stock of the situation and also met manager Aaron Boone in person for the first time.
“I’m looking forward to having him here. [Monday] And really start getting to know him,” Boone said Sunday afternoon. “But yeah, it was nice to meet him.”
The first full-team workout is scheduled for Tuesday, but position players will begin trickling in from across the street on Monday (many of whom train at the Yankees’ player development facility). I did that.
It’s been more than two months since the Yankees acquired Soto against the Padres, making it a blockbuster to pair with Aaron Judge as one of the best one-two punches in the game.
Now, his assimilation into the organization is about to begin in earnest.
“Even if you have a few great players, you always hope that the group you have will make a big difference,” Boone said.
Austin Wells witnessed Gerrit Cole’s bullpen session for the first time Sunday, part of the Yankees’ plan to get their batteries working together this spring.
Wells didn’t catch Cole at all when he was called up in September last season — with Jose Trevino on injured reserve and Cy Young Award winner Ben Rotvedt every five days. – but you will have a chance to gain experience with him during camp.
“I’m going to have him in the game as well,” Boone said.
Trevino is expected to grab Cole during the season, but having Wells available gives the Yankees additional flexibility in case of injuries or the need to strengthen the lineup.
Boone made his first start Sunday over Clayton Andrews, a 5-foot-6 left-handed reliever the Yankees acquired from the Brewers on Wednesday.
“He’s got some good stuff,” Boone said. “He’s got a really good changeup. He starts playing with some fastballs, four-seam, two-seam. He also has a good breaking ball. He’s a good athlete and a former position player. He’s a good player in the bullpen. It was really good [session]”
The Yankees traded left-handed reliever Matt Crook (designated Tuesday) to the Orioles in exchange for cash.
