MLB

Ichiro takes Hiroki deep in Yankees BP

NO-LOOK PITCH: Ichiro Suzuki (far right, with former Yankee Randy Winn) lets out a laugh during spring training yesterday, when he slammed a batting practice home run off Hiroki Kuroda (left). (N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg)

TAMPA — During live spring-training batting practice, it’s rare for hitters to get the bat on the ball. The drill should be renamed pitching practice, because they dominate.

Yet, there was Ichiro Suzuki crushing a pitch from Hiroki Kuroda halfway into the right-field bleachers yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Ichiro exited the batting cage with a broad grin and tipped his helmet at the fans who cheered the homer. On the mound, fellow countryman Kuroda smiled.

On the way out of the clubhouse Kuroda stopped near Ichiro’s locker and said, “I’ll start over again.’’

That drew a smile from Ichiro.

* Jorge Posada is expected to arrive in camp today and serve as a special instructor. … Having thrown three bullpen sessions, Mariano Rivera will throw batting practice today, but manager Joe Girardi doesn’t have a date for when Rivera will pitch in a game. … Derek Jeter took batting practice against righty Jim Miller and participated in fielding drills, but isn’t running yet.

* According to Girardi, the bulging disk high in Phil Hughes’ back is improving.

PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING

“He feels better and that’s a good sign for me,’’ Girardi said.

Hughes hasn’t been on the field since Monday when he hurt himself covering first base during fielding drill.

* No matter how many times Girardi is asked about Travis Hafner playing the field, the manager insists it would have to be an extreme emergency for Hafner to surface at first base.

“When we do fielding drills, he goes into the cage,’’ Girardi said. “He is a DH.’’

* Pitching prospect Mark Montgomery’s back is improving, according to Girardi.

“He is playing catch and feels much better,’’ Girardi said of the right-hander, who some believe could be a factor in the Yankees’ bullpen at some point this season due to a filthy slider that the 22-year-old righty used to strike out 99 batters in 64 1/3 combined innings at Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton.

* Before they leave for the World Baseball Classic, Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira will be busy. According to Girardi, Cano is scheduled to play in six of the first eight games and Teixeira in five of the eight. They will make the trip to Lake Buena Vista tomorrow when the Yankees open the exhibition season against the Braves.

Other members of the Yankees’ organization in the WBC are Melky Mesa (Dominican Republic), Juan Cedeno (Dominican Republic), Gil Velazquez (Mexico), Walter Ibarra (Mexico) and switch-throwing pitcher Pat Venditte (Italy).

* Raul Ibanez, now playing for the Mariners, donated his bat from last year’s Game 3 of the ALDS to the Hall of Fame. In that game, Ibanez belted a game-tying homer in the ninth and a game-winning homer in the 12th.