Aaron Boone spoke with reporters for the first time at spring training camp as pitchers and catchers began reporting on Wednesday, and started off with injury updates that occurred during the offseason.
The major update was a blow to the bullpen, as Scott Effross, who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, will be out until “summer” after undergoing offseason back surgery.
Effross, a trade deadline acquisition in 2022, pitched to a 2.54 ERA that season and held a 2.13 ERA after being traded to New York, a span of 13 appearances. His return from Tommy John was expected to give the bullpen a boost, but he will miss nearly half the season if he indeed can return by summer. As a response, the Yanks reportedly brought back Lou Trivino, another 2022 deadline acquisition.
In other injury news, Jose Trevino suffered a calf strain that will delay his spring training, but Boone expects the catcher to be ready by Opening Day.
Trevino missed extended time last season with a wrist injury, but Boone is excited about the potential of Austin Wells, who made his big-league debut late last season.
“I think he’s made strides this winter to put himself in position to compete for that,” Boone said of Wells and his chances of being one of the catchers on the depth chart come Opening Day. “We’ll see how it plays out. He’s certainly put himself in position to earn some things.”
On the more positive side of the injury front, Boone said Anthony Rizzo is looking like his typical self after his season was cut short in 2023 due to lingering symptoms from a concussion suffered in May.
“Rizz is doing great. Looks great,” Boone said. “He’s been here a couple weeks now…I think, physically, Rizz was probably ready at the end of the season last year. It’s enabled him to have a normal winter as far as preparing for the upcoming season. I don’t anticipate any hold-ups with that.”
Boone added that he has a lineup in mind when everyone is healthy, and if all goes well, his choice for the leadoff spot would be DJ LeMahieu, who finished 2023 strong after consecutive lackluster seasons.
“It’ll play out,” Boone said. “In my mind, I guess I do have an order if everyone is going and healthy. The biggest thing I want to make sure we solve is our leadoff spot…I want it to be DJ. Hopefully it is, but certainly, Alex Verdugo up there is a possibility. But if that leadoff spot gets settled, then we have a chance to be a really special offense. I do feel like the middle of the lineup around Aaron and Juan has a chance to be deep and special.”
Of course, Boone also answered the question about the team’s mindset following a disastrous 82-win campaign in 2023, and while he acknowledged that words are meaningless right now, he stressed the team’s motivation to right the wrongs of last year.
“We're hell-bent on being a champion,” Boone said. “We understand very well that last year was not anything anyone in this organization wants, demands or expects. I would say we have poured into that from ownership to the front office to the coaches and staff, all the way to the players. I do feel like we have prepared properly. We are ready to roll. But again, we have to show you.”