Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes Miguel Andujar will be a starter in majors at some point
The Yankees' Miguel Andujar runs to first base after hitting a two-run single against the White Sox on June 28, 2017, in Chicago. Credit: AP / Nam Y. Huh
TAMPA, Fla. — It remains to be seen if Miguel Andujar can win the starting job at third base out of camp, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone knows this much:
The 22-year-old will play regularly in the big leagues, and sooner rather than later.
“There’s no question in my mind that he’s going to hit and hit for a long time in this league,” Boone said. “And there’s no question in my mind that defensively he’ll be really good at some point.”
The questions surrounding Andujar always have been about defense, some of which he’ll try to answer in the next six weeks.
“We have to see how he does this spring [defensively] and how he looks,” Boone said. “But what I’m excited about is the skill set is there for him to be really good down there at the hot corner. He’s going to be a really good player.”
Boone says Verlander is right
Boone had no issues with Houston’s Justin Verlander saying the Astros, not the Yankees, should be considered American League favorites.
“It does go through them,” Boone said. “They’re the world champions. He’s absolutely right. They’ve assembled an amazing team.”
Green likely will be in pen
Chad Green is being stretched out as a starter in spring training but, not surprisingly, Boone said “it would have to take a lot” for the 2017 relief standout not to end up in the bullpen again.
Build him up
Though pitching prospect Domingo Acevedo’s bullpen session received a bit of attention Thursday, the righthander’s camp is likely to be spent building up arm strength and not in game action.
Keep an eye on . . .
Jonathan Loaisiga, 23, is a 5-11, 165-pound righthander signed by the Yankees out of a tryout camp in 2016. Loaisiga, who missed most of 2016 and 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery, was added to the 40-man roster in December to protect him in the Rule 5 draft. Loaisiga, whom one opposing team scout said has “as natural, effortless delivery as I’ve seen,” features a fastball-curveball-changeup mix.
