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Jose Trevino’s spring debut is right around the corner.
The catcher is expected to play in his first exhibition contest this Sunday, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Trevino has been sidelined by a calf strain thus far, though he’s done plenty of non-game baseball activities since spring training began.
Trevino has not played in a game since July 17 of last year. A wrist injury began bothering him last spring, and surgery ultimately forced him to miss most of the second half after he slashed .210/.257/.312 over 55 games.
A Platinum Glove winner, the Yankees are counting on Trevino’s defense more than his offense. He is Gerrit Cole’s preferred catcher and will likely catch the ace on Opening Day if healthy.
Austin Wells, who offers pop from the left side, entered camp as the frontrunner to be the Yankees’ No. 2 catcher. However, the rookie has yet to hit this spring and has options. Ben Rortvedt, who took over as Cole’s catcher but isn’t much a of a threat at the plate, does not.
There’s also Carlos Narvaez. Aaron Boone described him as “elite” behind the plate during an in-game interview with the YES Network on Wednesday. The prospect, who homered in the 4-3 loss to the Rays, gives the Yankees another talented defender on their 40-man roster if they move or lose Rortvedt.
Narvaez has never played in the majors.
The Yankees also have Agustin Ramirez, another novice, on the 40-man roster, while Luis Torrens, a veteran non-roster invitee, has enjoyed a solid camp.
RODÓN STRUGGLES
Carlos Rodón was fine between the beginning and end of his start against the Rays on Thursday, but a pair of home runs bookended the outing.
Yandy Díaz and Richie Palacios went deep off the lefty, who totaled three innings, five hits, three earned runs, one walk and one strikeout at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Rodón’s fastball velocity was down from his first start on Feb. 25, when he averaged 93.6 mph and maxed out at 95.9. On Wednesday, he averaged 93.2 mph and topped out at 94.8.
Rodón, who told reporters that he didn’t have his best fastball against the Rays, had been sitting 94-95 mph and even hitting 97 mph in non-game settings early on in camp.
Five days prior to Wednesday’s start, Rodón served up four home runs in a live batting practice session. He used that session to work on his new cutter, which he used five times against Tampa Bay. He also worked in his curveball and changeup, in addition to the fastball and slider he is best known for.
KAHNLE UPDATE
Kahnle, who is behind in his build-up following end-of-season shoulder inflammation, said that he’s “trending” toward being a no for the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, according to Hoch. He doesn’t expect to pitch in games until the first week of the season, which means the Yankees will likely leave him behind when they start the year in Houston on March 28.
