Russell Wilson to join Yankees at spring training Monday
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson reacts after throwing a touchdown against the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. Credit: Jim McIsaac
TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees will add another arm to camp next week.
No, not that kind.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, a Rangers farmhand acquired by the Yankees a couple of weeks ago, is slated to be in Tampa, and in uniform wearing No. 73, on Monday.
“#73 headed your way Monday!” Wilson tweeted Thursday afternoon, including @Yankees Spring Training @TheJudge44 @GianCarlo818 in the tweet.
In an accompanying video post, Wilson, wearing a Yankees cap, said: “Hey New York City . . . I’m headed to spring training on Monday. I can’t wait to see you guys Feb. 26. We’re going to have some fun for that week. And, hey, Aaron Judge, I know you want to throw some passes so let’s play some ball and we’ll see. We’ll have a little home run derby, too. Stanton, I’m coming for you, too. We’ll have some fun. And, hey, let’s go win a World Series.”
General manager Brian Cashman has said Wilson, who played both sports in college, will not play in any games while in camp for a handful of days.
“We’re talking about a high-character guy, a guy that’s won on the highest level in the NFL,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s developed a reputation of being a tremendous leader, so any time we can get people like that around our guys, it’s something that we welcome.”
Day off (mostly) for Judge
Judge tracked pitches during a live batting-practice session early Thursday morning but did not participate in batting practice on the field, as he did the first three days of camp. The half-day was by design, part of managing the 25-year-old’s workload as a precautionary measure after arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in November.
“He’s been ramped up pretty good, so this was kind of a built- in day [off] for him,” Boone said. “He’s doing well and I think right on schedule to be ready to go in a game next week.”
Eyeing the Tigers
Boone said the decision not to play Gary Sanchez against Detroit on Friday had nothing to do with the brawl Sanchez was a part of last season in a game against the Tigers, which earned the catcher a four-game suspension (later reduced to three).
“This was something we talked about very early in camp,’’ Boone said, “having a specific plan we wanted to stick to with him.”
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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