Gleyber Torres received precautionary X-rays and a CT scan after he jammed the ring finger of his right hand diving into a base during Monday’s victory over the Blue Jays, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday.

All tests were negative on the 24-year-old Torres, and Boone said that the team is hopeful that Torres can be in the lineup for Wednesday’s series finale with Toronto at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.

“He was pretty sore [Monday] night,” Boone said. “We had them get X-rays and a CT scan just to rule everything out. It came back clean. He’s still a little bit sore [Tuesday], but I would say that he’s probably available to us -- certainly, in an emergency, but maybe even more than that.”

Torres went 0-for-3 in Monday’s contest, though he worked a second-inning walk, the plate appearance in which the injury occurred. Torres was erased on the basepaths when Gio Urshela grounded into a double play.

With Torres on the bench, Urshela moved from third base to shortstop in Tuesday's 7-3 loss, making his first start at the position as a Yankee. Urshela has played 13 previous big league games at shortstop (nine starts), most recently with the Blue Jays in 2018.

“I have a lot of confidence in Gio when he has a glove on his hand and he’s standing in the infield,” Boone said. “I expect him to go out there and play the way he’s capable of, handle the routine play and contribute to a victory for us. Gio is one of the last people I worry about on the defensive side of the ball.”

Bigger than baseball
Aaron Hicks returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Tuesday, one day after the outfielder was given the night off in response to the fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, Minn.

“I just felt like it wasn't right for me to play that game,” Hicks said. “It was tough to read that somebody just got murdered. He's a father to his son, and he’s also a son to his mother. It’s extremely tough when situations like that happen.”

Sunday’s incident in Minnesota took place amid the greater context of the ongoing murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after George Floyd's death last May. Hicks said that the support he received from his teammates was “incredible.”

“Just them being able to say they’ve got my back, even if they don't understand what it's like and what Black Americans in this country have to deal with sometimes,” Hicks said. “It's just nice to hear, ‘It's all good, we'll take care of this game for you.’”

Hicks went 3-for-4 with a double in the Yankees’ loss.

Smell of success
Right-hander Corey Kluber and infielder Rougned Odor were teammates with the Rangers last year, though their paths did not cross as much as anticipated, with Kluber’s season limited to one inning by injuries. Yet Kluber said he could tell Odor would add value to a winning ballclub.

“I’ve always admired how hard he plays, how much intensity he brings to the field each day,” Kluber said. “The time I spent with him last year, I didn't see anything that would make me think otherwise. Thus far here, same thing. I think that he brings that kind of hard-nosed attitude every day. It's one of the things that can be contagious for the team.”

Whiff-le ball
Yankees pitchers had recorded 121 strikeouts entering play on Tuesday, the most by any club through its first 10 games in Major League history. The previous record was 119, shared by the 2020 Reds and the '18 Yanks.

“Our performance has been really good,” said right-hander Luis Cessa. “I’m so excited for all the new guys and the old guys, too. I think we’re doing a really good job right now.”

Comeback trail
First baseman Luke Voit (recovery from left knee surgery) has been cleared to perform light fielding drills and throwing. Boone said that Voit has “progressed really well” and could hit off a tee next week.

This date in Yankees history
April 13, 1978: The Yankee Stadium home opener doubled as “Reggie!” Candy Bar Day. Reggie Jackson hit a three-run homer in the first inning, after which the field was showered with the chocolate and peanut treats, which were given out free to fans at the game. The Yankees defeated the White Sox, 4-2.