Juan Soto homers again as Yankees get good look at most of opening day lineup
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Boone likes what he sees from a lineup the New York Yankees manager says will closely resemble what the club fields on opening day.
New star right fielder Juan Soto hit his fourth homer of spring training and catcher Jose Trevino went deep in his spring debut coming off a calf injury as the Yankees rallied for a 9-8 victory over Atlanta on Sunday.
The primary missing piece was shortstop Anthony Volpe, who is having another strong spring after playing his way into the opening day lineup in Florida last year and having a solid rookie season.
One through six against the Braves matched what New York has done when regulars have played this spring: third baseman DJ LeMahieu, Soto, center fielder Aaron Judge, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Gleyber Torres and DH Giancarlo Stanton.
“We get these guys out there consistently, we should have an offense that has a chance to be really, really good,” Boone said. “It’s a talented group of hitters, we just have to keep them healthy and going. If we do that, I do feel we’re going to score a lot.”
The Yankees added Soto in an offseason trade with San Diego, putting a three-time All-Star who is just 25 in front of the 2022 AL MVP in Judge.
“So dynamic,” Judge said of Soto. “Hits the ball all over the field, works a walk, hits for power. It just elevates everybody’s game.”
Injuries will be a key.
Judge missed 42 games last year after tearing a ligament in his right big toe when he crashed into the right-field fence at Dodger Stadium. Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, has averaged just 78 games over the past five seasons because of injuries.
But everybody’s healthy right now.
“When you’ve got that one through five, one through six, it just keeps going,” Judge said. “That’s the thing I’m noticing with this lineup, it just doesn’t stop after the first couple innings. Pretty excited about what this lineup is capable of, and everybody’s just kind of ready to get rolling.”
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