Cashman: Versatility is Drury’s ticket back to The Bronx

Miguel Andujar is among the better third baseman in baseball, so there is no need for Brandon Drury at the position where he started the season for the Yankees.

However, the club isn’t satisfied to see a player stuck in the minors who many in the organization believed was going to develop into a contributor in the majors when acquired from the Diamondbacks early in spring training.

Along with Gleyber Torres, Andujar has quickly developed into an All-Star candidate, so now the Yankees are exploring other avenues to get Drury back to the big leagues to strengthen a bench for Aaron Boone, who craves players who can handle multiple positions.

“We are getting him reps at first and kicking around second [base] as we build versatility,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said at a Hope Week event at P.S. 73, a few blocks north of Yankee Stadium, early Wednesday afternoon before the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Nationals. “Obviously, what Andujar has done at third base, we will see if we can create a path to get [Drury] back here if there is an injury at third or on the versatility side of it.’’

Drury started at first base for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday night for the first time this year.

With the Yankees’ bullpen pitching well, there is not an urgent need for right-hander Tommy Kahnle to return from SWB, to which he was optioned on June 4.

“We want him to build up and see a tick up in stuff,’’ Aaron Boone said of Kahnle, who suffered a dip in velocity this year. “Last year he was at 98 [mph] but I don’t think he needs to be back there to be elite.’’

After not appearing in the past two games Gary Sanchez will return to the lineup Thursday against the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Boone might elevate Gleyber Torres from ninth to fifth or sixth for a game or two, but the manager is enamored with having Torres hit in front of Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge.

“With our lineup and how it sets up I think the nine hole is such a valuable spot,’’ Boone said of hitting Torres last which he has done 35 times this season. “There will be a select day where I hit him fifth or sixth but to move him a spot or two, I think his value in the nine hole is significant and I think it has played out that way.’’

Torres went 1-for-4 with a homer and is hitting .296 with 12 homers and 30 RBIs in 44 games.