Notes: Voit makes '21 debut; Hicks scratched

After leading all Major Leaguers in home runs last season, Luke Voit took his first big league hacks of the year.

Voit was reinstated from the injured list and batted fifth as the Yankees began their longest road trip of the year, a 10-game swing that opened Tuesday against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

“He’s a force in this league,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s not only a dangerous hitter, but a really good hitter. He’s just a guy that adds length to our lineup, somebody that goes right into the middle of that lineup and is a really good hitter with tremendous power and plate discipline.”

The 30-year-old Voit underwent surgery in late March to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Voit played in five Minor League rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .389 with three homers, two doubles and six RBIs.

Voit’s return figures to boost a Yankees lineup that has not received much production from first basemen; Jay Bruce was anointed the Opening Day starter in Voit’s absence and retired after hitting .118 (4-for-34) in 10 games, while Mike Ford entered Tuesday batting .103 (4-for-39) in 13 games.

Overall, Yankees first basemen combined for a Major League-low .494 OPS during Voit’s absence. Last season, Voit batted .277/.338/.610 with five doubles, 22 homers and 52 RBIs in 56 games.

“It’s a big deal getting him back in there,” Boone said. “I’m excited to see him hopefully start having an impact tonight.”

Gio returns, Hicks scratched

While third baseman Gio Urshela (left knee stiffness) returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday, outfielder Aaron Hicks was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup against the Rays with a right shin bruise.

Hicks sustained the injury on a foul ball in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Nationals at Yankee Stadium. He was in Boone’s original lineup, playing center field, but was replaced in center field by Brett Gardner about 1 1/2 hours before the scheduled first pitch.

The 31-year-old Hicks is batting .198/.301/.340 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 31 games this season, though he has been heating up over the last week-plus. In Hicks’ last nine games since April 30, the switch-hitter is batting .370/.485/.556 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.

Urshela missed all three games this past weekend against the Nationals, having sustained an injury Thursday against the Astros.

“I feel pretty good about where [Urshela] is,” Boone said. “Gio should be good to go.”

Bombers bits

Luis Severino (recovery from Tommy John surgery) is nearing his first live batting practice session at the club’s Tampa, Fla., complex. Severino most recently threw 40 pitches over two simulated innings with a batter standing in, but not swinging.

This date in Yankees history

May 11, 2006: Hideki Matsui fractured his left wrist attempting a catch and was removed in the top of the first inning against the Red Sox. According to MLB rules, that ended Matsui’s streak of 1,768 consecutive games played as a professional -- 1,250 games with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants and 518 with the Yankees.