Yankees prospect Aaron Judge hits three-run homer against Red Sox
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees rounds third after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 5, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Getty Images / Justin K. Aller
TAMPA, Fla. — It wasn’t only Jorge Mateo who created some buzz Saturday.
The Yankees hit two home runs in their 6-4 victory over the Red Sox at Steinbrenner Field. One was a solo shot by the 20-year-old Mateo, their top prospect, off knuckleballer Steven Wright. The other was a three-run shot off Anthony Varvaro by 23-year-old outfield prospect Aaron Judge.
Even if he’s fast-tracked, Mateo is at least a couple of years from the big leagues. Judge likely will get his call-up at some point this season.
Regardless, seeing two of the organization’s top prospects lead the way was exciting for Joe Girardi.
“I think you see the young players that are playing for us and how close they’re getting and their talent level,” Girardi said. “It’s there. There’s a lot of talent in this [system] and that’s exciting for everyone in this organization.”
Eovaldi about ready
Nathan Eovaldi, who missed about a week with groin tightness and is scheduled to make his first start Thursday, threw a two-inning simulated game Saturday morning.
“Everything felt good,” Eovaldi said after the 31-pitch session. “There were even two ground balls to the first-base side and I acted like I [covered first] and it felt fine.”
Eovaldi said he threw his fastball, slider and splitter but not his curveball at the suggestion of pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who wanted him to focus on the aforementioned three pitches.
Romine the veteran
Catcher Austin Romine used to be considered a top prospect in the organization, but the Yankees’ second-round pick in the 2007 draft, now 27, is trying to beat out Gary Sanchez for the job of Brian McCann’s backup.
“I’ve been fighting for nine years for the same job,” the always good-natured Romine said Saturday.
He said he knows “there’s a trust factor” with his ability to catch but that the question throughout his career been the same: “Can he hit enough?”
If Romine, 2-for-6 in two games thus far, does not make the 25-man roster, he can elect free agency, as can Carlos Corporan, another veteran catcher in camp.
Speaking of prospects
Scouts weren’t the only ones impressed with the debut of righthander James Kaprielian in Lakeland on Friday, when he pitched two perfect innings.
“What stood out to me was his composure,” said Romine, who caught the 22-year-old Kaprielian, the club’s first-round draft pick last June. “I’ve been here nine years and guys in their first camp, they get sped up. This guy slowed the game down. He shows a maturity level that’s rare.”
Extra bases
The Yankees held a moment of silence in honor of Mets media relations senior director Shannon Forde, 44, who passed away Friday after a lengthy battle with breast cancer . . . Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-2 with a walk, improving to 3-for-4 with two walks in his first two games . . . Jacoby Ellsbury made his debut and went 1-for-3 with a triple.
