TAMPA — Everyone knows spring training stats don’t mean much, especially in the first couple weeks of Grapefruit League play for a bunch of reasons.
But everyone wants good results, and whether you’re having success against a big leaguer or a minor leaguer, it can build confidence and/or prove someone’s healthy.
Stiff back shuts down Aaron Hicks: Yankees give update on 1st spring injury to starter
Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks came down with a stiff back during last Friday’s spring training game in Tampa.
Here are nine Yankees who have opened eyes while the club was going 4-4-1 in their first nine spring games:
TROY TULOWITZKI, SS
2019 spring stats: .500 average, 6 AB, 6 AB, 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 double, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 2.238 OPS, 3 games.
Sunday: Day off.
The skinny: It’s still early, but Tulowitzki has looked like his old superstar self in his first games since missing the entire 2018 season recovering from surgeries to both of his heels.
* * *
MIGUEL ANDUJAR, 3B
2019 spring stats: .308 average, 13 AB, 1 run, 4 hit, 1 double, 1 RBI, .692 OPS, 5 games.
Sunday: 2-for-3 with Tigers.
The skinny: As usual, Andujar looks good at the plate and his fielding appears improved, as he has no errors in nine chances over 22 innings at third so far this spring. On Sunday, he made a few good plays in the field, including a nice pick behind the bag on a ball hit hard down the line.
“I loved how he got rid of it,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought the foot work was good. A good day for Miggy in the field.”
* * *
DOMINGO GERMAN, RHP
2019 spring stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 games, 1 start, 4.2 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.
Sunday: 2 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 4 K in a start against Blue Jays.
The skinny: German went into spring training with an inside track to win an Opening Day roster spot as a long reliever and he’s performed well in both of his outings thus far, his last one as a starter.
* * *
LUKE VOIT, 1B
2019 spring stats: .300 average, 10 AB, 2 runs, 3 hits, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1.264 OPS, 4 games.
Sunday: 1-for-3 with a homer and strikeout vs. Blue Jays.
The skinny: Voit hasn’t done anything to lose the lead over Greg Bird that he had going into spring training for the starting job, as he’s looked vintage August and September 2018 blasting two homers and a team-best five RBI so far. Even more impressive, his defense at first base looks much improved.
* * *
GREG BIRD, 1B
2019 spring stats: .462 average, 13 AB, 1 run, 6 hits, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 1.456 OPS, 6 games.
Sunday: 0-for-2 with walk, two strikeouts vs. Tigers.
The skinny: Bird is having good at-bats, he’s driving the ball well and he’s as healthy as he’s been since spraining 2017, so there’s some early optimism that this finally will be year he plays and produces for a full season.
* * *
AARON JUDGE, RF
2019 spring stats: .400 average, 10 AB, 3 runs, 4 hits, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1.655 OPS, 4 games.
Sunday: 2-for-3 with two homers, three RBI vs. Tigers.
The skinny: Judge has four extra-base hits in four game, including two opposite-field homers on Sunday. “I feel like he’s had good at-bat from the get-go,” manager Aaron Boone said. “His two-strike approach been really good. Ge’s special, so I think coming in and having an offseason where he’s just training and not rehabbing … he’s in a good spot right now.”
* * *
JONATHAN HOLDER, RHP
2019 spring stats: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 games, 3.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.
Sunday: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 strikeout in relief vs. Tigers.
The skinny: Holder was the unsung hero of the Yankees’ bullpen in 2018 and he’s fared very well this spring retiring 10 of 11 hitters in three outings.
* * *
TYLER WADE, INF/OF
2019 spring stats: .333 average, 15 AB, 5 runs, 5 hits, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, 1.145 OPS, 8 games.
Sunday: 0-for-3 with a walk and strikeout vs. Blue Jays.
The skinny: Wade hit well in the Grapefruit League the last two seasons, and he’s off to good start this year. What’s been impressive this time is Wade’s power, as he’s laced two opposite-field doubles to left and blasted a no-doubt-about-it homer to right.
* * *
ISIAH GILLIAM, OF
2019 spring stats: 1.000 average, 2 AB, 2 runs, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 CS, 3,500 OPS, 2 games. Sunday: 1-for-1 with homer in vs. Tigers.
The skinny: Gilliam isn’t even on Yankees’ spring training roster, but the 2015 20th round draft pick makes the list because he’s made the opportunities to come over from the minor-league complex for selected. On Sunday, the switch-hitter belted the Yankees’ sixth homer of the day in a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers and it was an tremendous opposite-field blast to right-center off Tigers left-hander Tyler Alexander. “That was a bomb,” marveled veteran outfielder Brett Gardner. “Geez. I was in the weight room and I saw where it landed. I said, ‘Oh my goodness.’ I was giving (Aaron) Judge a hard time. I told him he couldn’t hit ‘em up there!”
Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Be the first to comment