Yankees’ guests flash ‘wisdom,’ four rings

Trio from late-1990s dynasty lend a hand

Former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams was back at camp as guest instructor on Saturday, joining teammate Andy Pettitte and fourtime World Series-winning manager Joe Torre.

The trio, all key members of the 1996-2000 Yankees teams that won it all four times, were together behind the cage during batting practice in Tampa, Florida.

Torre arrived Friday for his initial instructor stint and said this was the first time he was in uniform at Steinbrenner Field since his final spring training as manager in 2007. He initially wasn’t going to put on his old No. 6, but he changed his mind after being seeing Pettitte and guest instructor Ron Guidry in the coaches room.

Also present was Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who was an assistant GM in 1996 before being promoted to his current role two years later.

Guidry and guest instructor Willie Randolph were members of the powerhouse late 1970s Yankees teams.

“There’s a lot of wisdom, you know, whether it’s Joe Torre or Bernie Williams or Willie Randolph,” Cashman said.

Marlins rotation

Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez is undergoing tests for elbow soreness.

Pérez left his start after 14 pitches on Wednesday due to a broken nail on his right middle finger. He alerted the training staff that his elbow was sore, and the Marlins said on Saturday that imaging and testing will continue for the next few days.

The 20-year-old Dominican was projected as a top three starter in a Marlins rotation that’s been dealing with injury issues. Sandy Alcántara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner, will miss the entire season after Tommy John surgery in October; left-hander Braxton Garrett and righty Edward Cabrera are also questionable for opening day.

No relief

Cleveland’s pitching problems could be deepening.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said reliever Sam Hentges will be shut down for a few days while the team gathers more information on his swollen left middle finger.

Hentges’ injury is the latest for the Guardians, who announced earlier this week that reliever Trevor Stephan and top prospect Daniel Espino will undergo season-ending surgeries, and starter Gavin Williams will begin the season on the injured list with a sore elbow.

All that news came in one day. Hentges has struggled this spring, but the Guardians are counting on him to be part of a bullpen that suddenly has some major questions. The 27-year-old Hentges went 3-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 56 games last season.

Strong prospects

Tigers infielder Jace Jung, the team’s top pick in the 2022 amateur draft, hit two homers in Detroit’s Spring Breakout prospects game against the Phillies.

Jung’s first homer came off of Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect, Mick Abel, and his second was a 412-foot shot against Griff Mcgarry. Detroit won the game 5-1.

Jung hit 28 homers in the minors last year, when he split time between Single-a and Double-a.