Donaldson hits 2 HRs after tweaking stance

TAMPA — It was just one day, but after the last year, Josh Donaldson and the Yankees are encouraged by any positive signs at the plate and on Tuesday, the third baseman provided two reasons for optimism.

Using a slightly tweaked stance in an attempt to simplify his approach, Donaldson hit two homers in a 6-3 win over the Tigers at Steinbrenner Field.

Donaldson’s issues since arriving to the Yankees last spring are well-documented and his struggles for much of this spring have been worrisome.

On Tuesday, Aaron Boone said he noticed Donaldson’s adjustments during his first round of batting practice and told him, “That’s it, right there.”

Boone and Donaldson declined to get into the specifics of what the 37-year-old was doing differently, but a National League scout at the game noted there was less of a leg kick which produced a shorter swing that allowed Donaldson to be quicker to the ball.

It resulted in a homer to left-center off a 94 mph Spencer Turnbull sinker in the bottom of the fourth and another shot out to left-center two innings later, this time off a 95 mph fastball from Will Vest.

Donaldson said the results were a product of the progress he’s made throughout the spring and based on work he’s done since his nightmarish first season in The Bronx ended last year.

Asked if he was placing more importance on his performance this spring than in years past because of his struggles from 2022, Donaldson said, “I think from Day 1 in the offseason, I looked to put more importance on it to make sure any issues I thought I had I was going to address.”

He hadn’t had much to show for it — on the field, at least — this spring until Tuesday.

Boone said it’s natural for it to take some time after Donaldson had the worst season of his career.

“He got dinged a little bit last year,” Boone said of Donaldson’s confidence. “He’s got to know that it’s still in there, because it is. He’d never had a year like that. The guy’s been an MVP and basically a stud throughout his career and by his standard had a down year last year. That’s a little shock. But I keep maintaining with him and through a scouting lens, he’s still got the tools to be a really good hitter.”

Boone added Donaldson is “twitchy, he’s strong and he’s got power.”

With the adjustments he made at the plate, Boone said Donaldson “cleaned some things up … and that allows him to give himself some space and be a little quicker.”