TAMPA — While his swing got too uphill by the end of his rookie season, Anthony Volpe did belt 21 home runs.
But Aaron Boone does not expect Volpe to sacrifice any of that power with his flatter swing this year.
“I don’t think so, no, because his strength is his strength,” Boone said Thursday before the Yankees hosted the Tigers at Steinbrenner Field.
“Overall, he was a very good fastball hitter, just fastball down last year. But hopefully this puts him in a better position to handle that, be better in certain areas that got exposed. But then it also puts you in better position to handle the mistake off-speed pitch that shows up that a lot of times is a ball you can hit for an extra-base hit or out of the ballpark.”
Volpe hit .248 and slugged .479 against fastballs last season, struggling more with breaking and off-speed pitches.
But the 22-year-old spent the offseason flattening his bat path, which should give him better coverage on pitches in the strike zone.
Boone said he believes Volpe, with his improved swing and less chasing, will be a hitter that gets on base.
Last season, he posted a .283 on-base percentage, which was the second-lowest mark of 133 qualified hitters.
“I think this version of him hopefully continues to move the needle to where he’s controlling the strike zone at a better rate too,” Boone said. “I think his at-bats [this spring] have been really consistent.”
Gerrit Cole threw three innings and 47 pitches of live batting practice Thursday afternoon, continuing his buildup for the regular season.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner is expected to make three more starts before taking the mound on Opening Day against the Astros.
“Take it day by day still at this point and hammer out the recovery,” Cole said. “It’s certainly moving the way we want it to and for the most part, it’s locating the way we want it to. So just keep on moving up.”
Besides Tommy Kahnle, whose buildup is behind because of the shoulder issue he ended last season with, Jonathan Loaisiga is the only other member of the projected bullpen who has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game.
But Boone said Loaisiga, who threw two innings of live batting practice Wednesday, is “good to go.”
“I don’t have any reservations about him,” Boone said. “His work is where it needs to be.”
The projected rosters for the inaugural “Spring Breakout” Prospect Games — a showcase of teams’ top prospects on March 16 — were unveiled on Thursday.
Among the interesting Yankees prospects expected to play in the game who have not yet gotten a taste of big-league camp are LHP Henry Lalane, SS Roderick Arias, SS George Lombard Jr. and OF John Cruz.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs were pregame guests at Steinbrenner Field and took batting practice, with a handful of Yankees (including Aaron Judge and Juan Soto) watching from behind the cage.