Gleyber hurts back; Ford dealt
PACKIN’ THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT
The Yankees hope their sweep of the Blue Jays will not be a costly one. Shortstop Gleyber Torres tweaked his back when his cleat got stuck on him making a double play and left the game in the fourth inning. The team announced he left the game with left lower back soreness.
Aaron Boone was hopeful it will not be a serious issue.
“Gleyber is actually doing really well right now. I think he made that great play and then there was that double-play ball kinda in the hole. And I think he just kind of tweaked it a little bit,” Boone said. “Got a lot of treatment during the game.The trainer said he was doing pretty well. And then I just saw him right before I walked in here. And he said he felt good.
“So we’ll see where we’re at with it tomorrow, but it doesn’t look like it’s anything too serious.”
The Yankees have Tyler Wade on the roster who can play shortstop and Boone has used Gio Urshela there in emergency spots.
BOMBERS DEAL FORD
The Yankees announced on Thursday that first baseman Mike Ford has been traded to the Rays for cash considerations and a player to be named. Ford will report to the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate in Durham.
“He’s a talented guy that I think can be a good hitter in this league,” Boone said. “Now he turns into someone that we might have to face and get out.”
Ford had been with the Yankee organization since 2013, signing as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton. He appeared in 101 games at the big-league level between 2019 and 2021. After hitting .259 with 12 home runs during his rookie season, Ford regressed mightily at the plate. He hit .135 in 84 plate appearances during the shortened 2020 season and .133 in 72 trips to the plate this year.
“We’ve seen him go through some really good stretches,” Boone said. “He’s still talented, it’s just been a little bit of a struggle the last couple years.”
With 18 starts at first base in 2021, Ford was the second-most used first baseman, trailing only DJ LeMahieu and his 24 starts at the position. Trading Ford also eliminates a left-handed bat, something the Yankees famously do not have very many of on their roster.
When Yankee Stadium reopens to a full-capacity crowd tonight, the team will also celebrate the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative, which was introduced in 2019 as a way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The initiative awards $10,000 college scholarships to one graduating high school senior from each of the five boroughs.
The five students, who the Yankees say “have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ community” will be honored with a ceremony in Monument Park. This year’s recipients are Viviana “V” Sakura Benzan, Christine Cabusay, Ryan Heesemann, Skye Mayo and Daniil Tagaev.
AT HOME IN BUFFALO
Each installment of this threegame series against the Blue Jays will go into the books as road games for the Yankees. Playing in Buffalo, however, as the Jays have done in response to the coronavirus restrictions in Canada, means that the stadium has been infiltrated by Yankee fans.
“It has definitely been unique,” Boone said from a podium at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field. “You can definitely feel their presence and feel the excitement. I’m sure a lot of upstate, Western New York Yankee fans are going all out. It’s been nice from our standpoint, to hear them behind us and know how excited they are to see us. That’s been pretty cool to witness.”
Once someone puts on a Yankee uniform, though, they quickly learn that the support is not just limited to the Northeast.
“It’s pretty much everywhere we go,” LeMahieu said of the widespread fan support. “It’s part of being a Yankee that’s really special. Not too many teams have that type of energy.”
“We’re used to seeing our fan base throughout the cities we visit,” Jonathan Loaisiga said through team interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I don’t think it’s strange. I think it’s more of a fan base we have throughout the country that comes out wherever we are.”
Aaron Judge echoed his skipper’s sentiments.