Zack Britton reported to camp a day after he suffered a significant scare by taking an Erik Kratz comebacker to his right wrist. Tests revealed it was only a bruise, and the Yankees left-handed reliever said he underwent treatment on Thursday and would have been in line to pitch in Saturday’s game.
“In the game, I think you’re more on guard for [a comebacker],” Britton said. “I normally put [a protective] L-screen out there and I didn’t yesterday, so it was kind of karma. You’re just not ready for it when you’re facing your own guys and, I don’t want to say going through the motions, but to an extent. I definitely wasn’t ready for it. But I got lucky.”
Even though the X-rays and CT scan didn’t show a break or a fracture of Britton’s right wrist, the Yankees scheduled those additional tests.
“I talked to him [Wednesday night] and seemed obviously relieved,’’ manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees finished spring training with a 6-3 win over the Nationals at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Thursday.
“Obviously the X-rays and CT scan were negative so that is good, but we want to make sure we explore and talk to everyone that should be spoken to on the matter.’’
According to Boone, Carlos Mendoza texted Gary Sanchez and the catcher informed the bench coach his condition had improved.
“I know he is feeling a lot better,’’ Boone said of Sanchez, who tested positive for the flu on Tuesday. “Hopefully, that is encouraging and he is scheduled to see the doctor [Friday].”
Right-hander David Hale didn’t hurt his chances of being in the bullpen mix whenever the regular season starts by throwing three scoreless innings and allowing one hit and not walking a batter.
Tyler Wade hit the ball hard twice on Wednesday against the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., but left without a hit. Thursday, the left-handed hitting Wade doubled and homered. The homer was off Nationals lefty Sean Doolittle.
Mike Ford’s chances of making the team out of spring training depended on how the Yankees’ 26-man roster was going to be shaped. The Yankees like Ford’s left-handed bat for a team that is top-heavy from the right side. But Ford finished the shortened spring by hitting .194 (6-for-29).
Clint Frazier needed an injury to an outfielder in order to make the Opening Day roster and he got two when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge went down. Frazier took advantage of the opportunity, and had Opening Day been March 26 — which it won’t — Frazier would have had a starting job thanks to hitting .304 (7-for-23).