TAMPA, Fla. – On the eve of Jose Trevino’s personal Opening Day, the Yankees catcher took a moment to reflect on the “long, long road’’ back to the starting lineup.
“A lot of emotions,’’ said Trevino. “A lot of people to thank along the way.’’
Right wrist surgery ended Trevino’s season last July 18, and a left calf strain delayed his entry into exhibition games, but the wait ends Sunday at Steinbrenner Field.
“I feel confident…just ready to join the team that we’ve got right now,’’ Trevino said Saturday, after his five at-bats in a minor league intrasquad game.
“It’s an exciting time to be a New York Yankee.’’
Jose Trevino’s long road back
Swinging free and easy Saturday afternoon, Trevino’s unofficial 3-for-5 on the minor league side included a broken-bat single, a sharp single to center, a lineout and a home run to right field.
Before those first live at-bats, “I was a little nervous,’’ Trevino said with a laugh. “I think it’s just getting back in there and used to things again, but I feel pretty comfortable and confident with where I’m at.’’
That’s a direct contrast to last spring, when Trevino played despite an aching wrist that worsened over time.
The tipping point came three games after the All-Star break, and the Yankees’ slog toward fourth place added to the burden of Trevino’s post-surgical rehab.
“It was tougher being in New York and not playing than when I was home, just watching,’’ Trevino said of dividing his time between the Bronx and Corpus Christi, Texas.
“I just wanted to help the team whichever way I can, and to not be able to do that, that stung a little bit just to see us kind of go down the route that we went.''
Assisting Austin Wells' defensive development
Unable to contribute on the field, Trevino put his energy toward rookie Austin Wells’ catching development.
“He’s even a better person than he is a baseball player,’’ Trevino said of Wells, who arrived with a promising scouting report as a lefty hitter, but a suspect one as a receiver.
Wells, 25, worked hard to change that narrative during his 19-game MLB audition last September, and arrived at camp vowing to earn the entire staff’s trust.
“The more I’m catching them, the better the relationship,’’ said Wells. “And the better feel that we have for each other – the trust to throw the pitch when needed.’’
Past the halfway mark of spring training, “it feels like everything’s going really well behind the plate.’’
Ace Gerrit Cole recently praised Wells’ communication, preparation and game-calling skills, and Wells’ work to improve his throwing has drawn praise from Aaron Boone.
“I’ve been so impressed by how good of a catcher I think he’s becoming,’’ said the manager.
“He cares about the pitchers, he cares about his teammates,’’ said Trevino. “He’s going to do great things.’’
Yankees' surplus catching depth
As a potential preview of his offensive upside, Wells batted .317 over his final 11 games last September, with five doubles, four homers and 10 RBI in 41 at-bats.
A productive bat could eventually earn Wells more playing time over Trevino, a first-time All-Star in 2022, but any battle for playing time reflects on the club’s catching depth.
“The group of catchers we’ve assembled, we feel really good about,’’ said Boone, which includes high-end defenders Carlos Narvaez and Ben Rortvedt.
The lefty-hitting Rortvedt ended last season as personal catcher to Cole, who unanimously won the AL Cy Young Award.
But Rortvedt has been a suspect big-league hitter and he’s out of minor league options, making him a trade candidate if Wells and Trevino are healthy leading into the March 28 season opener.
And the Yanks still boast a catching excess with youngsters Josh Breaux and Ben Rice, another promising hitter, and with veteran Luis Torrens still in camp.
“There’s no secret now that catchers are being built in this organization,’’ Trevino said of a “fierce’’ group that’s drawing notice.
But on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, all attention turns back toward Trevino.
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Jose Trevino's "long road'' back to the Yankees is nearly complete - NorthJersey.com
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