By WFAN.com
James Paxton made his Yankees spring training debut on Monday, tossing two no-hit innings. The left-hander walked two batters in the first inning and struck out two in his two innings of work.
Paxton aka "The Big Maple" joined WFAN's Joe and Evan on Wednesday. Paxton, who is Canadien, likes the nickname, but actually wasn't much of a hockey fan as a kid. He did grow up as a Mariners fan, which is where he spent his entire career (2013-2018) before coming to the Yankees in the offseason.
"I had seen all the rumors that I was going to be traded. I didn't know whom to. I had a pretty good feeling it was going to happen," Paxton told Joe and Evan. "I feel like I got really lucky with it being the Yankees. I'm real excited to be a Yankee."
The Yankees have always seemed to have a great left-handed pitcher in the rotation. Paxton has talked to a few of those guys.
"I've had a chance to talk with Guidry a little bit as well as Andy Pettitte," Paxton said. "I got some good advice from them. Camp has been great so far for me."
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The Yankees had a 100-win team last year and only got better in the offseason. This could be a memorable season for Paxton and the Bronx Bombers.
"It's a special team," Paxton said. "You look around this clubhouse and there is some real talent up and down. The hitters we have, the guys playing defense behind me, the other starting pitchers, the bullpen...it's a special group. You can see it. Guys feel it. They know what we have here. I think everyone is real excited about the potential of this team."
"I'm excited about it. Those games are going to be intense. I've watched them on TV for years and I'm really excited to be a part of it. I love the energy in the stadium when those games are being played. Everyone is just so fired up. It's going to be a great experience."
"It's been awesome. The guys have been great. They welcomed me right from the beginning. I knew J.A. a little bit before when we played in Seattle. We had a bit of a rapport. I had never met C.C., but we have had plenty of conversations talking about pitching. Andy Pettitte has been in the last couple of days so I have been talking to him a bit, which is great. Really getting some good advice from these guys. Looking forward to working with him the rest of the season here."
