Aaron Hicks wasn’t the only player booed at Yankee Stadium on Monday.
Josh Donaldson, though, remains on the Yankees and he felt the heat from the sellout crowd during a 6-3 win over Baltimore.
Donaldson, who served as the DH, walked in his first plate appearance, but was booed after all three of his next at-bats, two pop-ups and a groundout.
He was back in the lineup after starting just one game of Sunday’s doubleheader in St. Louis.
The slumping Donaldson left the Yankees’ last homestand in an 0-for-14 funk — including going hitless in 11 at-bats in three games in The Bronx.
The Yankees continue to hold out hope that some of the underlying numbers Donaldson has put up this season will eventually translate into tangible production.
“If you dig a little bit — it’s not always a popular thing because the numbers are what they are and he’s struggled in that regard — he’s hit a lot of balls hard in 70 at-bats or so,’’ Aaron Boone said prior to the game.
The manager said a few more hits dropping might have changed the narrative on Donaldson, who has still displayed power this season.
“The [batting] average would be different and he’d have the eight homers,’’ Boone said.
But that’s not what’s happened with Donaldson, who entered Monday hitting a miniscule .136 with an on-base percentage of just .191.
The Yankees can point to Donaldson’s 51.8 percent hard-hit rate, which is better than his career number of 47.8 percent, as well as an expected slugging percentage of .579 compared to his actual slugging percentage entering Monday of just .444.
“I understand all that comes around him, and he’s got to hit at a much better clip,’’ Boone said. “We all understand that. I hope the hits start to fall and he builds some momentum.”
Boone said Donaldson’s mindset remains good, although his lengthy struggles can take a toll.
“He’s confident in his ability, but he’s also human and wants it to happen,’’ Boone said. “With the caliber of player he is, struggling to get going, results matter, too.”
Carlos Rodon is scheduled to make his Yankee debut Friday after being sidelined since the spring with a left forearm strain followed by back tightness.
“It’s good to finally check that off the list and finally get to work now and pitch at Yankee Stadium,’’ Rodon said. “I had quite a few setbacks, but this part [of the rehab] was clean. I just want to pitch whenever my name is called.”
Nestor Cortes also threw another bullpen session Monday in his comeback from a strained rotator cuff and if both lefties are part of the rotation soon, the Yankees figure to have a decision to make, since they’ll have six starters for five spots, with Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, Clarke Schmidt and Monday’s starter, Domingo German, to go along with Rodon and Cortes.
Boone said he hasn’t gotten far enough ahead to know who might get bumped from the rotation.
Anthony Volpe had two more hits — including his 11th home run — as he extended his hitting streak to eight games, the longest of his young career.
Boone called Volpe’s emergence at the bottom of the lineup a “great” development.
“He’s maturing at this level and making adjustments,’’ Boone said. “He’s been big for us and we need it.”
Kyle Higashioka doubled and homered. Of his last 21 hits, 10 have been for extra bases.
The Yankees honored Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin prior to Monday’s game as part of the team’s HOPE Week.