DUNEDIN, Fla. — No longer are Aaron Judge’s days limited to facing live batting practice and throwing to bases.
Starting on Wednesday against the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year will begin to play in exhibition games.
“No worries. He was pushed back a little later, that was the doctor. He didn’t have any setbacks,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said before Tuesday’s 9-8 win over the Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium. “He is late out of the gates but better safe than sorry.’’
With the Yankees on the road Tuesday, Judge was at GMS taking live batting practice against Chasen Shreve and Domingo Acevedo.
Aaron Boone said Judge would DH Wednesday and play right field Friday, the next home game. Giancarlo Stanton will play right field Wednesday.
Chad Green said he doesn’t need to know if he is going to be a starter (doubtful) or a reliever (likely) at any time during spring training.
“It doesn’t matter. Going to the bullpen is a pretty easy transition for me,’’ said Green, who made one start in 40 appearances last season when he fanned 103 and walked 17 in 69 innings. “Whether it’s tomorrow they tell me or the day before the season starts.’’
The Yankees planned to put Clint Frazier on an exercise bicycle to test how he feels with an elevated heart rate after suffering a concussion on Sunday, when he hit his head against a fence making a catch in Bradenton, Fla.
“We will give him the time necessary. There is a concussion protocol to follow and when it’s resolved we will get him going again,’’ Cashman said of the left fielder who faced long odds to make the club before missing time.
“He keeps telling me how good he is, so encouraging,’’ Boone said. “It does seem to be something mild. Hopefully he will be able to get out there pretty soon.’’
Asked about the free-agent landscape of starting pitching, Cashman said, “I don’t know if I am allowed to answer that.’’
However, the GM said the Yankees’ door is never closed when it comes to acquiring talent.
“We are always open to trade and free-agent concepts if it fits our criteria,’’ Cashman said, well aware Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb remain free agents with March nearly here. “Our work is never done. We try to add to what we have. Right now, no signings today, no trade today.’’
CC Sabathia will make his first start of the exhibition season Thursday against the Phillies on the road, and Masahiro Tanaka will do the same on Friday versus the Braves at GMS Field.
As for Luis Severino, Boone said, “I imagine he’s soon after that.’’
The Blue Jays had two runners thrown out at the plate, as shortstop Ronald Torreyes delivered the relay throw to catcher Austin Romine for the outs in the third and fourth innings.
As 5,312 customers baked in the broiling sun at Dunedin Stadium, the Yankees and Blue Jays required 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete a nine-inning spring training exhibition.
Estevan Florial hit a ball into the right-field corner in the seventh inning and turned it into a stand-up triple with blinding speed. He isn’t ready for the majors, but it won’t be long before the 20-year-old center fielder becomes the Yankees’ top minor league prospect on the way to the big leagues.
The Yankees play host to the Tigers on Wednesday at GMS Field. Luis Cessa starts for the Yankees and Daniel Norris for the Tigers.