Every week this spring, I’ve been recapping the latest news from the Yankees’ Spring Training camp. With just a week until the regular season begins, let’s see what has been happening down in Tampa in recent days.
A Spring Sanchez Slump
Gary Sanchez got off to a hot start this spring. His three home runs are tied with Mike Tauchman for the team lead. Unfortunately, however, that start hasn’t exactly translated to the rest of Spring Training.
So, the question is: how much should we (or the Yankees) read into this?
Not much, honestly.
Sanchez is obviously coming off a really tough season, but this is Spring Training. These at-bats essentially do not matter, especially for players like Sanchez, who already have their roles on the team assured.
Now, if he struggles to start the regular season, then we can talk. But the spring is simply about trying to see the ball and get back into a bit of a rhythm at the plate. The results are secondary to the process when it comes to Spring Training. However, it is obviously something to watch for when the season does begin.
Does the “Klubot” Need Maintenance?
Corey Kluber was one of the Yankees’ high-profile signings this past offseason, and will be a part of the team’s rotation when the season begins. However, Eno Sarris, a writer for The Athletic, had some critique of Kluber’s most recent spring outing:
So, now we ask essentially the same question we asked about Sanchez. Is this something to be legitimately concerned about? Not yet.
Again, this is Spring Training, and guys are just trying to get a feel for things. Kluber’s command admittedly wasn’t great in his last outing, but he’s looked solid in other appearances. Including the last start, Kluber has allowed two runs in 9 & 2/3 innings, striking out nine while walking three.
The velocity was another note by Sarris, but that should be even less of a concern. Kluber has never thrown particularly hard, even when he was regularly finishing top 5 in Cy Young voting. When he won the AL Cy Young award in 2017, he averaged just 92.7 mph on his fastball. He isn’t a guy that depends on velocity to beat people.
The command will be the main thing to watch for in Kluber’s next outing. But, again, this isn’t necessarily anything to be concerned over until the regular season begins.
Tyler Wade’s Time with the Yankees: Coming to an End?
Throughout the spring, it has long been assumed that Tyler Wade was a lock for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, due to the fact that he can play up the middle and operate as the team’s backup shortstop. However, recent comments from Aaron Boone have some thinking that this may not be the case after all.
Gio Urshela recently started at short in a spring game for the Yanks, which we covered here. At the time, it was assumed that Urshela would only cover the position in an emergency situation. But, these comments may suggest otherwise.
If Urshela can cover shortstop on occasion, then Wade would naturally not be needed on the Opening Day roster. As Jomboy said in the above tweet, Wade being sent down would likely clear the way for Derek Dietrich to make the team as the extra infielder.
Dietrich is a lefty bat with a lot of pop, which fits the short porch perfectly. He can also play all over the field, and could back up at any infield position besides short.
So, the final bench spot then comes down to Mike Tauchman or Jay Bruce. Tauchman has 4 years of control left (including this season), and is out of options, so he can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers. Bruce is a more experienced bat, and can play first base in addition to the outfield.
Each game they play over the final week will be a must-watch for Yankee fans who wish to see which one will end up on the Opening Day roster.
Chris Gittens is Gitten’ It Done for the Yankees
The Yankees boast several of the most powerful hitters in baseball: Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and the previously-discussed Sanchez. However, another hitter has been drawing eyes this spring for his long home runs.
Chris Gittens hits bombs. That was his second homer of the spring, and he’s recorded 5 hits in 12 at-bats so far. I’ve discussed Gittens’ power before, but it’s worth noting again that he has absolutely raked in the minors as well.
Gittens has 71 home runs in 409 minor league games, across several levels. In 2019, he led the AA Trenton Thunder with 23 home runs.
As is the case with essentially every other minor league player, he was without a place to play last season. It will be interesting to see where he ends up to start the 2021 minor league campaign.
