DUNEDIN, Fla. – Rougned Odor’s stint with the Yankees has started very promising.
After starting Sunday’s win over the Rays, Odor led the Yankees offense in Monday’s 3-1 win over the Blue Jays with an one-out single in the fifth.
“All of his at-bats were pretty competitive,” Boone said. “I liked how he moved in the field and turned a nice double play. He’s going to play and get opportunities. It is a daily affair. “
Monday meant that Boone went with the same infield-setup, with Odor on second base and DJ LeMahieu on first base.
And left-wielding Odor delivered three of the hardest-hit balls of the night, including the Yankees’ first hit against left-handed Robbie Ray.
While Jay Bruce looked shaky to the plate and at first base, Boone said the veteran would come back in at some point.
In the meantime, they want to get a closer look at Odor, who was acquired in a trade after being assigned for assignment by the Rangers before Opening Day. And Boone also praised the “small edge and hunger with which he plays. It was cool to see. “
Boone noted that Odor is young and has a good “first step” at second base.
“I feel like the quality of the innings is there,” said Boone. “He has hit balls hard and loves the energy he brings to the field every day and the hunger with which he plays the game. He has handled himself well at second base. He has earned a number of opportunities. “
Boone said conditions were “pretty good” at TD Ballpark, the Single-A stadium where the Blue Jays play their home games due to COVID-19 restrictions in Canada.
“It didn’t feel like spring training,” Boone said of Toronto’s jumping training. “It felt like a real game.”
The stadium’s lower decks made it challenging for both batters and outfielders at dusk, Boone said.
Gerrit Cole said it was “fine”.
Jameson Taillon said he was “paying attention” to the Blue Jays’ series against the Angels to see if playing in a Single-A field would have any impact on the game.
“It may sound silly, but I think you can put two Major League teams in a city park and we’re going to find a way to compete and make it work,” said the right-hander. Blue Jays are a hungry and young team … We have to be ready to compete wherever we play. ”
Taillon remained encouraged by his first appearance, saying he was particularly pleased with the way his fastball played and focused on being more aggressive with his curveball as he felt things got better during his first start.
Clarke Schmidt received a cortisone shot on Monday, Boone said, in an effort to treat the persistent discomfort the right-handed person feels after being knocked out with a strained elbow since February.
“They feel like this should hopefully fix the problem to get him over the last bump,” Boone said. “We expect that, if it works in the coming days, he will have to start throwing sometime later this week or next week.”
Before Aaron Hicks decided to step down from Monday’s starting lineup for the murder of a black man in Minneapolis by a police officer, the middle fielder would hit sixth, which would have been the first time he wasn’t third in order. . Boone said he went with Giancarlo Stanton second and Aaron Judge third against left-handed Ray.
“It’s a combination I’ve been considering against left-handed throwing since the spring,” Boone said of Stanton and Judge hitting second and third respectively. “They are two great players and considering how right-handed we are, try to maximize that against a tough left-handed pitcher.”
Boone said Hicks would continue hitting third against righthanded starters.
‘I still like the way he breaks up [the lineup]Boone said. “I am still confident that he will have a very good year.”
Clint Frazier also returned to the line-up after playing two consecutive games.