WITH IT! way to get Andujar’s bat in lineup

much [work at] first but we’ll get him a little bit of work there,” Boone continued. “We’re prioritizing third base and the corner outfield spots, but also we will get [him] some work at first … in case we get in a situation. We have that option as well, but you know, we feel good about where he’s at in his defensive progression.”

Back before the threemonth coronavirus hiatus, Andujar was in the plans to play a lot of corner outfield. The Yankees were waiting on Aaron Hicks, who was supposed to miss half the season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and had Aaron Judge trying to heal a fractured rib. Giancarlo Stanton missed all but one spring game with a strained right calf.

Three and a half months later, the Yankees outfield is healthier. Hicks is back, Judge is back and Stanton may be just DH-ing to start, but he said he expects to play some in the outfield this season.

So the Yankees need to work a little harder to find a way to keep that bat in the lineup — it’s just that Andujar’s defense is a liability at third. Andujar committed 15 errors at the hot corner in 2018 — the fourth most by a third baseman in the majors that season — and had a cringeworthy -25 defensive runs saved.

In one spring training game at first back in March, he didn’t look sharp. Andujar made an awkward reaction to the first ball hit to him, an uncertain backhand and shaky throw — but got an out. In the third inning, he wasn’t so lucky when he dropped a very catchable throw from Urshela and was charged with an error.

“It’s not as natural as left field for him, but he’s been working more every day in left and taking his outfield work and then getting his third base work,” Boone said after that game in March, “and then sprinkling in first base.”