TAMPA, Fla. — It was one swing within the first inning of a Grapefruit League recreation, however inside the confines of the Yankees’ hopes for this season, it represented far more. Aaron Decide chugged into second base with a double, and abruptly Opening Day didn’t appear fairly so far-off.
Decide barreled an extra-base hit, labored a stroll, and scored two runs within the Yankees’ 12-0 Grapefruit League win Wednesday night time over the Pirates. The competition marked the captain’s return to on-field motion after he missed 9 days with belly discomfort.
“I’m feeling good,” Decide mentioned. “Like I’ve been telling you guys, I’m simply excited to get again in there. Get a few at-bats, a few swings and get a few performs within the subject, and prepare for the subsequent recreation.”
Dealing with Bucs starter Marco Gonzales, Decide made his presence felt instantly, driving in Juan Soto from first with a two-base hit to right-center subject as a part of the Yankees’ four-run first inning.
Decide walked and scored within the second, then was pulled for a pinch-hitter within the fourth. He additionally was examined defensively, working down Jack Suwinski’s deep flyout within the fourth inning.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned that he has no doubts about Decide being ready for the membership’s March 28 season opener towards the Astros in Houston.
“It was positively good to get him on the market,” Boone mentioned. “Clearly we wish to construct him, get some video games below his belt going into the season. I believed he had a reasonably good route on the ball over his head; I favored the way in which he moved at that ball.”
Boone mentioned that he plans to have Decide play once more on Friday towards the Mets, on Saturday towards the Phillies and on March 25 towards the Mets.
Decide is 3-for-15 (.200) this spring, and although he mentioned his superb goal could be to get 30 at-bats, he mentioned that a lot of these may be machine-simulated.
“A number of the instruments now we have right here get us prepared,” Decide mentioned. “We’ve been grinding in there off that. That’ll complement fairly a couple of at-bats, I feel.”
Decide’s most up-to-date Grapefruit League motion had been on March 10 towards the Braves. Afterward, he talked about that he had been experiencing belly discomfort for a few week, largely in the course of the follow-through of his swings.
Decide underwent an MRI on March 11, which was clear, after which adopted a modified exercise program earlier than getting again to recreation velocity on Wednesday.
“I feel we’ll be in a great spot,” Decide mentioned. “I’m going to get my work in like I’ve been for the previous couple of weeks, and we’ll be able to go for Opening Day.”