Drury back ...tostay
Brandon Drury was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Friday's series opener against the Red Sox, and Yankee manager Aaron Boone said there is "a good chance" the infielder/outfielder will be with the club for the foreseeable future.
"Look, he's earned his way back," Boone said of Drury, who began the season as the team's starting third baseman, but only played in eight games before experiencing headaches and blurred vision. Drury, 25, has played in 48 games for the Triple-A RailRiders and was batting .314 before getting called up Friday.
"We really felt like – obviously that's a big league player, playing in Triple-A," said Boone. "A lot of times when a guy that is clearly a big league player, that's had success, has to go down (to minors) for a particular reason, a lot of times the play goes a little south. That wasn't the case for Brandon. And then over the last week or so, when he's been asked to start working in more at first, and getting reps there, the work was put in."
Boone said "there's a good chance" Drury will play in the weekend series against Boston -- either at first or third -although he wasn't in Friday's starting lineup.
"His versatility is something that is a plus for him," Boone. "We'll just kind of go series to series, depending on the needs of our club.
Drury said he "feels really good," and that "it wasn't easy" to be on the disabled list and then have to work his way back up to the majors.
"Just looking forward to getting out there," said Drury. "I'm just here right now to help the team win ball games.
NINTH HOLE
The Red Sox starters for the threegame series are all lefties, and Boone made a strategic change for Friday, batting Brett Gardner ninth -- instead of his customary leadoff spot -against Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez.
CATCH AS CATCH CAN
With Gary Sanchez, on the DL (right groin strain) and out for the next three to four weeks, according to Boone, Austin Romine will be getting "the bulk of it until Gary comes back," the Yankee manager said.
HIRO PROGRESS
Starter Masahiro Tanaka threw roughly 50 pitches Friday in Tampa and Boone said the next step for the Japanese right-hander is a rehab game "perhaps middle of the next week." Tanaka, on the DL with a left and right hamstring strain, could start for the Yankees when they go on the road again starting July 6 in Toronto if he doesn't have any setbacks, Boone said.