In split-squad action, the Yankees fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, in Tampa, and their travel squad defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-5, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Here are the key takeaways…
–Austin Wells may very well have locked up the leadoff spot in the Opening Day lineup. The left-handed hitting catcher led off Sunday’s game with a rope of a double to right-center field, legging it out for two bases.
Wells, who reached base twice, now has a spring OPS of 1.122.
-A couple of batters later, Cody Bellingersmoked a double of his own, scoring Wells and giving the Yankees an early lead.
The Yankees certainly hope that Bellinger’s spring is a sign of things to come during the regular season, as he’s been tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a 1.308 OPS.
–Trent Grisham got the start in center on Sunday, with Aaron Judge starting in right and Bellinger in left. Grisham made the most of his start lining a solo home run just inside the foul pole down the right field line in the second inning.
Grisham now has a 1.259 OPS this spring.
-With the Yankees down to their last two outs, Dominic Smith slugged a solo home run, his third of the spring. Smith is hitting .323 this spring and continue to push for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
–Cam Schlitter, a seventh-round pick in 2022, started on the mound for the Yankees. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 4.2 innings. Schlitter pitched at three different levels of the Yankees’ farm system last season and will likely begin the year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Yankees’ power on display in split-squad 7-5 win over Rays
-The Yankees had three players likely to make their Opening Day roster in their lineup in Port Charlotte, Fla., and they all blasted home runs.
Ben Rice, batting leadoff and serving as the DH, went 2-for-4 with a homer. Jasson Dominguez, playing left field, went 1-for-4 with a home run, and Oswaldo Cabrera finished his day 3-for-3 with a big fly of his own.
–J.C. Escarra, fighting for the backup catching role, drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the ninth.
Who were the game MVPs?
Against the Pirates, it was Bellinger who had a pair of hits and will have a key role in the lineup, likely batting behind Judge.
Against the Rays, Cabrera had a huge day, likely solidifying himself as the starting third baseman.
Highlights
A leadoff double for Austin Wells! pic.twitter.com/17rGJMI076
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 16, 2025
Cody Bellinger brings home Austin Wells for the first run 🔥
(via @Yankees) pic.twitter.com/1M9ZkZezOx
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 16, 2025
Dom Smith Smash 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H7Z7DP3fMf
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 16, 2025
Jasson Dominguez long gone! pic.twitter.com/OcYCs2MtAK
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 16, 2025
What’s next
The Yankees visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:07 p.m.
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