Spring Training Game Thread: Chapman’s Spring Debut

So far, so good for the Yankees in Spring Training. The only significant injury was a fluke (Tyler Austin’s foot) and the kids all look pretty good. The Yankees are 6-1 this spring and they’ve outscored their opponents 47-29. They lead all teams in runs and homers (12) this spring. I have no idea whether the offense will last, but it has made this first week of Grapefruit League play awful fun.

This evening Aroldis Chapman will make his spring debut. Unlike Dellin Betances, Chapman is not going to the World Baseball Classic. He can work at his own pace this spring. Top relievers usually only throw seven or eight innings in camp. This will be inning No. 1 for Chapman. Also, Clint Frazier is starting in center field tonight. That’s sorta interesting. Here is the split squad lineup the Orioles sent up from Sarasota, and here are the players the Yankees will use:

1. RF Aaron Hicks
2. C Gary Sanchez
3. 1B Greg Bird
4. DH Matt Holliday
5. 2B Starlin Castro
6. 3B Chase Headley
7. LF Rob Refsnyder
8. CF Clint Frazier
9. SS Gleyber Torres
   RHP Adam Warren

Available Pitchers: LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Tyler Clippard, LHP Tommy Layne, and LHP Dietrich Enns are all scheduled to pitch tonight. RHP Gio Gallegos, LHP Jason Gurka, HP Kyle Haynes, RHP Matt Marsh, and LHP Evan Rutckyj are also available if needed. Haynes and Marsh are up from minor league camp for the day.

Available Position Players: C Kyle Higashioka, 1B Wilkin Castillo, 2B Jorge Mateo, SS Ruben Tejada, 3B Miguel Andujar, LF Ronald Torreyes, CF Tyler Wade, RHP Billy McKinney, and DH Ji-Man Choi will be the second string off the bench. C Jorge Saez, C Francisco Diaz, IF Pete Kozma, IF Donovan Solano, and OF Dustin Fowler are the extras.

It is cloudy and cool in Tampa, and there was some on-and-off rain throughout the afternoon. There’s no wet stuff in the forecast tonight though. Tonight’s game will begin at 6:35pm ET. You can watch on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. There’s also MLB.tv and the FOX Sports Go app. Enjoy.