Jay Bruce made a nice play at first base to throw Cedric Mullins out at home in the first inning of Tuesday’s 7-2 victory over the Orioles at the Stadium, then hit his first homer as a Yankee with a shot past it rightfield line to open the second inning.
“It feels good to get rid of the first one,” Bruce said of the homer.
When Bruce arrived in spring practice with a minor league deal, he was confident his swing would play well at Yankee Stadium, and not just because of homeruns like he hit on Tuesday.
“I’m not hitting a lot of homers along the right field line,” Bruce said. “You see there, a fly ball hit good, but really high, can run 320 feet and be a home run. Listen, I’ve played in big parks, small parks, and every park out there at this point. They all count the same no matter how far they go. “
Bruce added that he wouldn’t target the short porch on the right.
“I don’t necessarily have to strive for it,” he said. “The risk is not necessarily worth the reward for me. I’m aiming for the barrel. “