Young duo ready for major role in infield
TAMPA — Unless the Yankees make a move before Opening Day, both Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres could be starting infielders.
For a team with sky-high expectations, the thought of having two inexperienced players at second and third would figure to present some issues.
According to Didi Gregorius, it won’t.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be any challenge,” the shortstop said Monday at George M. Steinbrenner Field before the first full workout of the spring. “The guys played the whole time in the minor leagues. I talk to them and tell them to ‘just play the same way they did in the minor leagues. That got you here, so you don’t have to change anything.’ ”
That sounds good in theory, but plenty of well-regarded prospects have flopped on the bigger stage — and even more have struggled to begin their time in the majors.
With the Yankees looking to improve on last season’s ALCS appearance, there might not be as much room for growing pains as on some other teams.
General manager Brian Cashman said again Monday he was open to adding a third baseman. “The landscape is wide open for us to continue to evaluate what’s available to us, both internal and external,” Cashman said.
Free-agent options include Neil Walker, though he would fit better at second, and Mike Moustakas, who would be a difficult fit for the Yankees, still aiming at staying under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
Josh Harrison could be another target if the Pirates decide to move him.
Until one of them lands in The Bronx, though, Andujar has as good a shot as anyone at being the third baseman. He played five games with the Yankees last season, going 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles in eight plate appearances before being sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he excelled at the plate.
Andujar has had trouble with his footwork defensively and has continued to work on his defense with Carlos Mendoza, who was the team’s minor league in- field coordinator and is now on the Yankees’ major league staff.
As far as Andujar is concerned, he’s prepared to win the spot.
“I think so,” Andujar said through an interpreter. “I’ve been working very hard since I was a kid to get to this point. To me, I feel ready.”
He’ll have about five weeks to prove it.