TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Giancarlo Stanton will be getting a chance to play left field as the New York Yankees search for options when starter Brett Gardner gets the day off.
Stanton worked out extensively in left Thursday before batting practice for players that didn’t make the road trip to play Philadelphia.
Stanton, acquired in December from Miami, and Aaron Judge are right fielders. Both will get time at designated hitter as the Yankees look for ways to keep all their big bats in the lineup.
”Stanton is going to get a day out there pretty soon,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who lost his center field job to Aaron Hicks last season, will also get a look as a backup in left.
Judge, coming back from offseason left shoulder surgery, could make his first start in right field in Friday’s game against Atlanta. He has been working out in left.
Boone said that he likes the idea of Judge hitting second in the lineup although he didn’t completely rule out Stanton or Gary Sanchez in the role
”Just the ability to get on, power,” Boone said. ”I do like having one of our premium hitters in that slot. I do like Aaron there.”
Despite striking out 208 times last year, Judge hit .284, drew 127 walks and had a .422 on-base percentage in addition to 52 homer and 114 RBIs. He was a unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year.
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