TAMPA – Hideki Matsui was back at Steinbrenner Field wearing pinstripes for the first time since 2009, kicking off his two-week stint as a guest instructor.
Matsui will do some work with hitters and outfielders, but his biggest role may be as a mentor for Masahiro Tanaka, who began his second week in Tampa.
“I think he can tell him about New York,” Joe Girardi said. “I think he can share a lot of his experiences in New York and what a great place it is, and some of the adjustments that he made as a hitter. Whenever a pitcher talks to a hitter or vice versa, you can still learn from them because it’s what they think about.”
Derek Jeter saw Matsui only briefly, but he’s looking forward to spending time with his former teammate while he’s in camp.
“It seems like every year there’s more and more ex-teammates that are turning into coaches, or honorary guest special instructors,” Jeter said.
Willie Randolph, also made his debut as guest instructor, spending most of the morning hitting grounders to infielders.
$283M YAWN
With all the hoopla surrounding Jeter’s retirement and Tanaka’s arrival, three of the newest Yankees were an afterthought during the first day of workouts.
Despite signing for a combined $283 million this winter, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann blended into the crowd. Most years, they would have been the primary story.
“They are not going to be the focal point,” Girardi said. “The thing with the guys that you mentioned, Derek, Tex coming back, that focal point is going to move around every day. That’s probably a really good thing.”
Alfonso Soriano is also taking part in his first Yankees spring since 2003, but he wasn’t in uniform Thursday as he battled flu-like symptoms.
IT’S JUST A NUMBER, SCOTT
Roughly 10 months removed from a torn left ACL – his second since the spring of 2012 – Scott Sizemore is trying to win a job as a utility infielder. Sizemore has seen time with the Tigers and A’s since he broke into the majors in 2010, hitting .238/.328/.381 with 14 homers and 70 RBI in 160 games. He arrived at camp to find he had been assigned No. 24, the same one worn by Robinson Cano since 2006.
“At first I saw 24 and I was like, ‘Oh, they gave me a good number,’ ” Sizemore said. “Then I started thinking for a second, I was like, ‘Wait, that’s Cano’s number.’ That’s some pretty serious shoes to fill, but I’m glad they at least gave me a really good number.” . . . Michael Pineda threw a bullpen session, although he remains a few days behind the other pitchers, many of whom have started throwing live batting practice.
Minor-league catcher Pete O’Brien was impressed by Pineda’s stuff, which he could compare with a few sessions he caught during Pineda’s rehab at the Yankees’ complex in 2012.
