Drury hit on elbow, taking it day by day
TAMPA — The Yankees appeared to avoid a scare when Brandon Drury was struck on the left elbow by a pitch in the fifth inning of Friday’s game.
Drury stayed in the game and advanced to third on Neil Walker’s groundrule double before leaving in favor of pinch-runner Angel Aguilar.
X-rays were negative, but there is some swelling there, Aaron Boone said. At this point, it’s unclear if Drury will need to miss any time.
Drury is slated to be the team’s starting third baseman heading into Opening Day next Thursday in Toronto.
“We’ll kind of see how it is each day and kind of make decisions accordingly,” Aaron Boone said.
If it is a short-term injury, Boone thinks the Yankees can make due with Neil Walker, Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes.
Top prospect Miguel Andujar’s upset bid to win the starting job at third fell short, and he will open the 2018 campaign at Triple-A Scranton, working on finishing up his defensive development.
Andujar — who on Friday received the James P. Dawson Award as the most outstanding rookie in spring training — will also see some time at first in the minors, as the Yankees look to ensure they are covered in case Greg Bird gets injured again.
TANAKA TIME
Masahiro Tanaka finished up a mostly poor spring on a high note, throwing 5.2 innings of one-run ball. Tanaka allowed five hits, walked none and struck out six.
The 29-year-old righty’s splitter was sharp, and the only damage he allowed was a fastball down the middle that Boston’s Ivan De Jesus Jr. hit over the right-field wall for a solo homer leading off the third.
“Before going into the season, you just want to see some results and I was able to get that today,” Tanaka said. “I thought that was a good outing.”
Tanaka finished the spring with a 7.24 ERA. He will follow Luis Severino on Friday in Toronto.
SAY GOODBYE TO CESSA
Luis Cessa was optioned to Triple-A Scranton, leaving it down to swingman Domingo German and middle reliever Jonathan Holder for the final spot on the roster. Wade LeBlanc was granted his release. Boone said the final roster spot will be decided Saturday.
Dellin Betances and Chasen Shreve both struggled out of the bullpen. Betances retired only one of the three hitters he faced, while Shreve’s scoreless spring ended when he gave up two runs on three hits in the seventh.
Gary Sanchez committed his second passed ball of the spring but also blocked several balls in the dirt.
Greg Bird finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout and is hitting .154.