TAMPA — More or less, this is how it should be.
Juan Soto put on a laser show batting performance in front of Aaron Judge. Giancarlo Stanton hit a double. DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo made solid contact and found holes.
In a game that amounted to a rehearsal for Opening Day’s lineup, the Yankees’ offense looked ready for the bright lights. In Soto’s case, it’s probably to crush them.
A duplicate of the Yankees’ starting lineup, minus Anthony Volpe, who had played the day before, took the stage and scored eight points in the first five innings of an eventual 9-8 victory over the Braves.
Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday’s 1-8 record “could be” the same when the regular season begins March 28 in Houston.
LeMahieu, the leadoff man, had one hit in three at bats. Soto-Judge-Rizzo-Torres-Stanton represent the top and middle of the batting lineup with the highest ceiling in baseball.
No. 7 hitter Alex Verdugo added one of the club’s 17 hits, and No. 8 hitter Jose Trevino hit a home run in his spring debut.
Oswaldo Cabrera entered the game as the No. 9 batter and shortstop, but Judge said of the batting lineup, which normally includes Volpe, “It’s continued like this.” “What I’m noticing right now with this batting lineup is that it doesn’t stop after the first inning, the first few batters. It’s six, seven, eight, and even Trevey.”
Depth may be a strength, but it’s definitely the core of the order — a fact reinforced by Soto continuing what has been a surreal spring.
Batting second in front of the judges — is it too early for batting line protection to start? — Soto went 2-for-3 with his fourth home run of the exhibition season, a moonshot that left Steinbrenner Field and onto the grass that leads to Dale Mabry Highway, an estimated 447 feet away.
“That’s one of the furthest balls I’ve ever hit here,” Judge said of Atlanta’s Patrick Harrigan’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. “I’ve been trying to attack him. I said, ‘Every home run you’ve ever hit was sprinting out of the box. Enjoy some of these.’
After praising his explosiveness, Soto managed to exceed initial expectations by going 9-for-18 with 10 RBIs and an OPS of 1.828.
Further encouragement was seen on the sixth hole. Stanton was unable to translate his visibly new physique into noticeably different results in the first few weeks of camp, but he made a breakthrough with a 110 mph double to right-center field, sending the ball off the wall. Despite not reaching second base, Stanton reached second base. A bullet single into the left field seats.
With the obvious caveat that spring games don’t matter, the Yankees quickly climbed out of the four-run hole they dug in the first inning.
“[Games are] “It won’t be long before this lineup becomes a reality,” Stanton said. “It’s great to see a preview.”
The Astros have not yet named an Opening Day starter, but left-hander Framber Valdez is the most likely option. Having a southpaw on the mound may mean Boone will rely on Trent Grisham (who is left-handed but excels against left-handed batters) rather than Verdugo, who is a left-handed hitter.
Coach Boone acknowledged that the opposing team’s starters will play a role in the batting lineup, and said there is still potential for him to tinker with the midfield.
“He might play a 4-5-6 depending on left and right,” Boone said, giving Stanton a boost if the slugger shows more of his usual stardom during his career. He said it was possible.
Last season, the Yankees allowed the sixth-fewest points in the majors as they suffered a series of injuries and struggled to find reinforcements.
After one season and Soto’s success, they hope their lineup can reach the heights Soto praised Sunday.
“I think this makes our job a lot easier,” said Clark Schmidt, who watched his team erase a four-run deficit in 2 2/3 innings. “For us, and for our starters, a lot of times, if we get to the fifth inning, we’re going to be in line for a win with the way our offense looks at this point.”
