ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Juan Soto took an enormous whiff at strike three within the third inning Tuesday evening and instantly grimaced in a regarding look.
The Yankees star remained within the recreation and was again within the lineup Wednesday, going 2-for-4 in a much-needed 2-1 win over the Rays.
However supervisor Aaron Boone acknowledged that uncomfortable-looking swing was as a result of proper hand discomfort that Soto has nonetheless been feeling at occasions after banging it on the bottom in opposition to the Blue Jays on June 28.
“From time to time, he’ll take a swing the place it bothers him slightly bit or a swing-and-miss the place it bothers him,” Boone mentioned Wednesday at Tropicana Subject. “However total, he’s doing fairly effectively with it. It’s clearly not affecting his potential to influence the ball a lot.”
Soto homered a number of innings after initially sustaining the bruised hand and was scratched from the lineup the following day as a result of he was having issue swinging the bat.
He was a late addition to the lineup the next day after it had improved sufficient and has not missed a recreation since, although he entered Wednesday batting 5-for-29 (.172) with eight walks, one dwelling run and a .662 OPS in eight video games because the harm.
“He’s undoubtedly been grinding via some issues, however not one thing that I believe any of us are too apprehensive about,” Boone mentioned.
Giancarlo Stanton, who did “fairly a little bit of operating” on Tuesday in accordance with Boone, could possibly be ready to play in video games when the Yankees return from the All-Star break subsequent Friday.
The group continues to be debating whether or not Stanton, getting back from a hamstring pressure that he suffered on June 22, will want a rehab project earlier than coming again.
Stanton missed six weeks with a hamstring pressure final yr however solely performed in a single rehab recreation earlier than returning to the Yankees.
He homered and doubled in his first two video games again however then fell right into a hunch.
“We’ll take into account all that,” Boone mentioned. “A few of the instruments we now have at our disposal now change the sport slightly bit with how guys are in a position to prepare and see issues. We’ll attempt to make the perfect determination for everyone.”
The Yankees signed lefty reliever Tim Mayza to a minor league contract after he was designated for project and launched by the Blue Jays.
Mayza, who gave up Aaron Decide’s 61st dwelling run in 2022, had an 8.03 ERA in 35 appearances this season for the Blue Jays together with his velocity down.
Nevertheless it was solely final yr that he posted a 1.52 ERA throughout 69 video games, which the Yankees are hoping they will faucet again into.
“We’ll see what we now have,” Boone mentioned. “Fairly good observe file. It’s been a tricky yr for him … however he’s been a man that’s carried out very well within the AL East.”
It’s a low-risk flier for the Yankees, who’re anticipated to be energetic within the reliever commerce market by the July 30 deadline.
Their bullpen has struggled total however notably their lefties, with Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez (who has already been DFA’d) not pitching as much as their potential.
DJ LeMahieu took a beating on the plate, getting hit on the left pinky by a 92 mph fastball and later fouling off a ball that bounced up and hit him on the neck, slightly below his jaw.
After being tended to by a coach and Boone each occasions — needing an extended breather within the second occasion — he remained within the recreation.
“Appeared like he bought higher as we went,” Boone mentioned. “DJ felt like yeah, he’s one hundred pc, he’s advantageous. Take note of it, however I believe we’re all proper.”
Soto stole second base within the eighth inning, marking the Yankees’ first steal since June 14 — snapping a 21-game streak with out one.
