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Yankees Insider: Starlin Castro makes good first impression

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Starlin Castro makes a good first impression with the Yankees Wednesday.USA TODAY Network/USA TODAY Network/Sipa USA

Starlin Castro makes a good first impression with the Yankees Wednesday.

TAMPA – Starlin Castro’s official Yankees debut won’t come for more than a month, but his first game in pinstripes showed his new team what he’s capable of doing.

Castro went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in the Yankees’ 10-9 come-from-behind win over the Tigers. The offense was nice, but it was a stellar third-inning play in the field that was his top highlights.

Castro ranged to the shortstop side of second base to rob Mike Aviles of a hit, ending the inning as the Steinbrenner Field crowd of 9,023 gave him a big ovation.

“I think the middle of our infield could be really good with the two guys we have, and I think Starlin is going to do a really good job,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I think that’s important, that he gets really, really comfortable at second base. That’s his main position. I know he’s played a month of it or so, but it’s important that he gets comfortable, he gets used to all different types of plays and he gets used to playing with Didi (Gregorius).”

Brett Gardner (bone bruise in left wrist) took batting practice in the indoor cage before Wednesday’s game, going through tee-and-toss drills before two rounds of hitting.

“You have to start somewhere,” Gardner said. “I feel good.”

Gardner will repeat the BP session on Thursday, but Girardi said the left fielder won’t find his way into the lineup until March 15 at the earliest. The manager said Gardner should have plenty of time to get his at-bats before the April 4 opener.

“We will take it slow,” Girardi said. “We will progress, so it won’t be in the first two weeks.”

***

Aaron Hicks’ first spring hit came in the fourth inning as he singled to left field with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, the newcomer was so eager to impress his team that he failed to see the runner at second base when he made the turn around first, resulting in an easy out for the Tigers.

“Excited,” Girardi said. “We talked to him. He said, ‘I got too excited.’ I said, ‘That’s OK, it happens. I’m glad you’re excited.'”

***

Shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo stole 82 bases in the minors last year, so it’s not exactly breaking news that he’s fast. But Girardi and the Yankees got a good look at how fast Wednesday as the 20-year-old tripled to left field to spark the game-winning two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth.

“I believe the only time I saw Mateo run, CC was doing a rehab game down here two years ago, maybe,” Girardi said. “Mateo was on rehab for a hammy and he was here. They told him not to run at 100 percent and he was flying at 80 percent. I was like, ‘Who is this kid?’ You don’t see too many triples to left field like that.”

The amazing part? Mateo didn’t even look like he was running hard to first base before he turned on the jets.

“I think he thought it was a home run,” Girardi said. “So did I when he hit it. He’s fast.”

***

Chasen Shreve, who was drilled in the back during a live BP session on Monday, will throw a bullpen session Thursday rather than making his spring debut against the Phillies. Girardi said he didn’t have much concern about Shreve, but they were simply playing it safe.

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