Young Bombers have A-dinner to remember

TAMPA — Aaron Judge didn’t need to be introduced to Alex Rodriguez this spring training because he had spent time with him in previous camps and lockered nearby.

Yet that didn’t keep Judge from hanging on every word Rodriguez uttered during a Thursday night dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House attended by nine Yankees prospects, with steaks on the menu.

“There was a lot of information. Any time you can pick the brain of someone who was in the league for 20 years and as successful as he was it’s great opportunity. So I was glad to be part of it,’’ Judge said Friday before the Yankees opened the ex- hibition season against the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Tyler Wade, who will be used at shortstop, second base and in the outfield this spring, took the laidback evening as a learning experience.

“It was very casual, nothing formal,’’ Wade said. “Everything he has been through you can learn a lot.’’

Rodriguez met with Hal Steinbrenner on Thursday to discuss what he will do in a consultant role this coming season, when the Yankees will pay him $21 million after releasing him in August last year.

He arrived in camp Tuesday in the role of special instructor and left Friday. He is due back in the middle of March, when he will meet with YES executives about a possible broadcasting gig.

Reggie Jackson, in the role of special instructor, arrived in camp prior to Friday’s game, a 9-4 Yankees win.

After hitting a triple to rightcenter against the Phillies in the eighth inning Clint Frazier rounded second and looked for third-base coach Joe Espada for guidance. But Espada was busy telling Miguel Andujar to score. It turned out OK, but manager Joe Girardi was compelled to point out the mistake.

“That’s my read, don’t look up at the third-base coach,’’ Frazier said of Girardi’s message. “Probably a poor decision on my part but it worked out. I was glad to get there safely.’’

Asked if he is an opposite-field hitter, Frazier replied, “I am an allfields hitter.’’

Kyle Higashioka hit one of the three Yankees homers and Matt Holliday and Andujar each had two hits.

Former Yankees pitcher Orlando “El Duque’’ Hernandez and fellow Cuban hurler Jose Contreras were on hand for Friday’s game, as was Alfonso Soriano, who surfaced in the clubhouse during the game.