Andujar looks comfortable playing outfield for first time

TAMPA — Miguel Andujar had no hesitation. On Victor Robles’ short fly ball to left field, the first batter of the day, Andujar charged in and took charge, telling Gleyber Torres to back off. Andujar settled under and made the catch, his first professional play in left field.

“That first ball Gleyber is waving his hands and Miggy took charge like he should and called him off. Just when he came out of the game at the end, I said nice going today, and he said ‘I really liked that,’ So that was good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So it’s good to see him out there and look to start getting that experience now playing. It’s one thing to do it and look good and look athletic and look the part in all your work but now you’ve gotta start gaining some game reps and your experience. That’s where you really start to grow.”

Anduja r has only played third base in his professional career, but after missing last season after shoulder surgery, he needs to find a new role. Gio Urshela is the Yankees’ starting third baseman going into the season, according to Boone and GM Brian Cashman.

So Andujar is playing the

outfield and first base in spring training to find ways to keep his bat in the lineup. Wednesday, in the Yankees’ 8-2 win over the defending World Series champion Nationals, Andujar looked comfortable making several plays in left field.

“I felt good out there. As I mentioned before, last time I played the outfield, I was a kid, I was like 11 or 12,” Andujar said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “And I’ve been with the Yankees for a long time now and I only played third base. But, thank God everything worked out fine. Everything we’ve been practicing and all the drills and everything. You know progress has been there and it’s continuing in a game and see that in action.”

There may be some more time for Andujar to play in left field considering Giancarlo Stanton, who played 18 regular season games last season, is already shut down with a right calf strain. At least this spring, Andujar will see some regular time there and that is a good chance to get his bat back. The runner-up for the 2018 Rookie of the Year has played just three games since May 12 of last season when he tore the labrum in his right shoulder. After doubling Wednesday, Andujar is 2for-9 this spring.

“There is a lot more work to be done. You know, a lot of months that I did not play, so you got to keep working the cage,” Andujar said. “Keep doing everything in practice and keep getting back to the to a rhythm where I feel back to being normal.”

The 24-year-old slashed .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs and 47 doubles in 606 atbats in his rookie season.

But the Yankees were never committed to Andujar as their third baseman of the future because of his glove.

Andujar committed 15 errors at the hot corner in 2018 and had a cringe-worthy minus-25 defensive runs saved. That was the fourth most by a third baseman in the majors that season.

LAST MAN STANDING

Masahiro Tanaka allowed two runs, two hits and struck out two over two innings of work in his 2020 Grapefruit

League debut. The righthander gave up a two-run homer on a splitter to Raudy Read, but otherwise felt good about his day.

“A couple of pitches obviously they need to be cleaned up. But overall, for the most part, I like how most of my pitches were coming out from my hand,” Tanaka said through interpreter Shingo Horie. “And also like how I was able to make adjustments in the game.”

Tanaka also used the cutter he had been working to perfect with Andy Pettitte early in camp on Wednesday.

“I like how it was coming out of my hand and how it was moving,” Tanaka said. And you’re all also able to see the hitters’ reaction as well. So, yeah, I thought overall the cutter was pretty good.”

Losing Luis Severino for the season to Tommy John surgery, after already having James Paxton missing the start of the season because of back surgery, it was reassuring for the Bombers to see Tanaka out there using all his pitches effectively in his first spring training start.

Tanaka, however, wasn’t putting any more pressure on his shoulders.

“I gotta do what I need to do. There might be some added pressure, but you know I really want to go up there and step up for the team. And I think, you know, Sevy’s the one most bummed out right now, and I obviously feel for him,” Tanaka said.