New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers - Spring Training Highlights (2-21-26)

Jones getting the start in right field. That one is in on the hands and popped up. And the first baseman, Seth Brown, will make the play. There's been some injuries in camp for the Tigers, including Trey Sweeney, former Yankees down, so there's some extra eyes on this kid. Could he make the team? Field hits a base hit in front of Dominguez. Takes it off the chest and then will flip it into second base. Pass to diving. Schumann into center field, a base hit for Torres. Swing and a miss, ball in the dirt. It's a score. He's got all the makings. A couple of different kinds of breaking balls and a really good changeup to go with that high-octane fastball. Swing and a miss on the change. Rodgers down on strikes. So the Tigers get a run on two hits, one error and one man left. Anything can happen in spring training. You look at injuries, but the way the roster is set up now, in all likelihood, Dominguez will start the season at Triple-A because, as Brian Cash and the Yankee GM said, you want to get him in bats, you want to get him in the field. If he's a bench player for the Yankees, Yankees starting outfield is set, he wouldn't get many plate appearances. Again, you don't sign any of that ink because you don't know about injuries. Especially considering the fact that he needs reps batting right-handed because that really increases his value. If he can get his right-handed production anywhere close to his left-handed production, that changes the equation. And over 400 plate appearances last year as he works a walk. Not much needs to be said about this guy, as you said, David. He's going to Cooperstown one year. Oh, he is. I mean, those numbers are historic in terms of the run that he's had over the last few years. However you stack it, he's among the game's greats. Before he turns him over to Mark DeRosa, he wants him to be a full-fledged nine-handed player. Fly ball centerfield. One out. Here's Ryan McMahon. Yankees are trying to get him better offensively. One of the things they've done, he has a very wide open stance, one of the most wide open stances in baseball. And they're closing that up just a bit. They think that will help him. So that's going to bounce over the wall. It'll be a double as Dominguez advances the third. Got to bring up Paul Goldschmidt. Last year he was the starting first baseman, then shared time with Ben Rice. Ben Rice is the starting first baseman now, but they love his leadership. They love what he gives them in the clubhouse. And also a very good right-handed batter against lefty pitching. It's a base hit. Dominguez scores easily. McMahon will be sent home. He'll score. It's a two-run single for Goldschmidt. And the Yankees take the lead 2-1. Now in his least to left field, you can see Legrange was upset, but erasing that mistake is Dominguez who ran it down for the first time. Legrange right here on display. There's several others too. Ground ball. McMahon. Nice easy toss across the diamond, and Legrange works a 1-2-3, and that's going to bring up Spencer Jones. Where does he fit in? You kind of get a feeling too with Spencer Jones that he's still kind of working out his mechanics. I'm seeing some changes already here, almost Otani-like. I like it. Long drive to right field for Jones. Speaking of Otani-like, not only the swing, but the power. This is impressive. See how he's ready. The curl in, no stride, and look at him spit out with that front foot. Hammered. Is it fair? Yep. So you can't really look at a replay from the dugout. Long fly ball left field. Dominguez back. Turning. Looking. See ya. A home for Jones. And it is 3-2, Yanks. Top of the Yankee order, Dominguez, Judge, and McMahon here at the bottom of the third. Yankees lead by one. Ball left field. Jones battling the Sun, and he can't make the play. The Sun won that battle, as Dominguez will end up at second. Judge, one of 11 Yankees that will depart to play for different teams in the WBC. Judge, of course, will play for the United States. That's a fly ball to center field, and deep. Crews back. Track. One for Judge. A dead center. A two-run shot. And the Yankees lead 5-2. Slider. Right down the middle. We want to be mindful of that and make sure, you know, we build him up safely. Like, he's doing great, and that's awesome. But we want to make sure we maintain that, and, you know, that said, we'll pay attention to all of it. Dominguez into left center. Crews runs it down. Tagging and scoring is Schumann. And the Yankees lead 6-2. It's when you get into electronics and stuff like that, that's when you're crossing the line. Judge hits one deep to left field. It's there. It's gone. And it is gone. Another home run for Judge. A two-run shot right down the line. And the Yankees pouring it on against the Tigers. Arias will get a try and a nice, quick, easy one-two-three inning for Fernando Crews. We're halfway through. Yankees up 8-2. Miguel Palma is on deck, and he will pitch in for Spencer Jones. That one is ripped, and nice play by Lee. He fires the first. Not handled there. A person walk. This will score for the Yankees. Yeah, I feel like, you know, attacking the strike zone is important for me. Jumps on the first pitch that he sees and sends it over the wall for a grand slam. Yankee power on display in Tampa, and they're up 17-3. There's a lot of talk about him getting passed up by guys like George Lombard Jr., and he has this kind of skill and this kind of talent. That's why he was wanted. Castillo, and the Yankees have 20 runs. They're up 20-3. These kids are not giving away any at-bats. These are important for them. The two-two. And that will do it. As the Yankees finish it off, their first spring training win of the year, and they win this one by a 20-3 score over Detroit. And we told you about the home runs, but Legrande certainly stands out. He does. I mean, he comes as advertised. Just a big power arm, but much more than that. I mean, he's a pitcher. He's got the secondary pitches to go with it. Certainly Aaron Judge, too. Wow. What a player. How fun it is to watch him.