King tabbed to start Yanks' spring opener

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees right-hander Michael King will draw the start for the club’s Grapefruit League opener against the Blue Jays on Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, manager Aaron Boone announced on Thursday.

King pitched in nine games (four starts) for New York in 2020, posting a 1-2 record and a 7.76 ERA. The 25-year-old was acquired from the Marlins in November 2017.

“I’ve been feeling great,” King said. “I took a little different approach this offseason and threw a lot more live BP. I got down to Tampa earlier than I normally would. I was lucky to have [Aaron] Judge, [Mike] Ford and [Gary] Sánchez to throw to. Luckily I’m not facing guys like that this season, but it was awesome for me.”

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Sunday’s game will be the Yankees’ first in nearly a year with fans in attendance. Steinbrenner Field is operating at 25 percent capacity this spring, with face coverings required and physical distancing enforced.

“We do look forward to getting out on the field in front of the fans,” outfielder Brett Gardner said. “The fans are such a big part of what we do. They are why we do what we do, and if it wasn’t for them, there wouldn’t be Major League Baseball. We look forward to things opening back up this season and hearing those fans in the bleachers again.”

On the bump
Gerrit Cole logged his second live batting practice session on Thursday, tossing 38 pitches over two innings. Boone said the life on Cole’s fastball was good, as was the shape of his curveball and slider. Cole added about four changeups, Boone said.

“I thought it was a really good day’s work and a good step forward for him as he gets ready to get into a real game here soon,” Boone said.

Domingo Germán tossed about 20 pitches in his first live BP. Boone said that Germán worked his two-seam and four-seam fastballs to both sides of the plate well.

“I thought he was sharp and under control,” Boone said.

All the way back
Aaron Hicks said he is now fully recovered from the Tommy John surgery that he underwent on his right elbow after the 2019 season, which he felt limited him during last year’s abbreviated campaign.

“It’s night and day from last year,” Hicks said. “I definitely feel like I’m 100 percent, just by the way I’ve been throwing to bases. I feel like I’m able to throw with a little bit more effort and a little bit more free for me as well. The biggest key is for me to be able to throw.”

Hicks batted .225/.379/.414 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 54 games last year, and the switch-hitter acknowledged there were times he consciously tried to protect the elbow while batting. Hicks’ walk rate was a career-high 19.4 percent, but he said that wasn’t necessarily because of the elbow.

“I’m trying to go up there and hit, but it seemed like last year I saw a lot more offspeed,” Hicks said. “They were chase pitches, not so much pitches in the strike zone for me to attack. I don’t swing at balls, and that’s a strength of mine. The way guys were pitching, I was just getting walked a lot.”

Justin time
Left-hander Justin Wilson tossed his first bullpen session of camp on Thursday at the player development complex, his arrival delayed by the severe weather impacting Texas. Wilson opted to drive and had difficulty navigating the highways, forcing him to stay overnight in a Louisiana hotel.

“There was tons of ice; I think way more than anyone expected,” Wilson said. “A lot of people in Texas and northern Louisiana lost power and water. It was a little hairy for a few days. Luckily, my wife and kids were safe. Our power came back on and we had running water. Once I got on the roads, I was hoping for a snowplow, but there wasn’t a whole lot. It was an interesting few days of travel.”

Wilson, 33, spent the last two years across town with the Mets, pitching to a 2.91 ERA in 68 appearances. He was a member of the Yankees in 2015, when he was 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 74 appearances.

“It’s kind of hard not to be excited,” Wilson said. “I think this is a veteran group with some young studs, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I think we’re going to be better than anyone can put on paper, just with what we have here in camp.”

Something to Tauch about
Mike Tauchman had an eventful afternoon at the plate, snapping a bat over his right knee after an at-bat against Germán, then slugging a home run over the right-field wall in Cole’s second inning. Tauchman is competing for a roster spot after hitting .242/.342/.305 in 43 games last year.

“I think he was a little bit banged up last year,” Boone said. “He came in really healthy and strong. His body is in a good place. I think he proved what he’s capable of in ’19. He’s a really elite defensive outfielder that can play all three positions, a guy that runs the bases well and can steal bases.”