TAMPA — Alex Rodriguez is gone for a year and Robinson Cano is in Seattle, but that doesn’t mean the Yankees don’t have a batter with the muscle to put on a power show during spring training batting practice.
Sure, it was the first day of BP, but the performance by neophyte catcher Pete O’Brien at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday was impossible to ignore, since it reminded some of how easily Darryl Strawberry launched balls out of the park.
“The buzz today was all about Pete O’Brien,’’ hitting instructor Kevin Long said of the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Miami native who was taken in the second round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Miami.
O’Brien, 23, hit balls over the batter’s eye in center field and high off the new scoreboard in left-center.
“What puts his swing at a different level is the ease of it,’’ Long said of the right-handed hitting O’Brien, who swatted 22 homers and drove in 96 runs last season for Charleston (Single-A) and Tampa (Single-A) while batting .291 (130-for-447) in 119 games. He drew 43 walks and fanned 134 times. “He is not a guy winding up and jumping out front. He has a good, short compact swing. Obviously, he is very explosive.’’
Asked to compare O’Brien’s swing with former prospect Jesus Montero’s, Long said, “O’Brien’s is a much cleaner swing.’’
Since the Yankees are deep in organizational catching and O’Brien needs work behind the plate, there is a good chance he will be shifted to the outfield at some point, although he is scheduled to start this coming season as a catcher.
Mark Teixeira’s name was listed on Saturday’s schedule for fielding and conditioning drills as well as batting practice. However, due to the inclement weather in the New York area, the Greenwich, Conn., resident didn’t arrive in town until the workout was over.
He is expected to participate in Sunday’s program. Teixeira is allowed to work out at the major league complex because he ended last season on the disabled list due to surgery on his right wrist to repair a torn tendon sheath.
Ivan Nova doesn’t consider himself a lock for the Yankees’ rotation. That’s a long way from the day the right-hander declared himself the best pitcher in the world after opening 3-0 in 2012.
“I’m still in a competition,” Nova said. “Nothing is sure. I know CC [Sabathia] can be sure, [Hiroki] Kuroda, [Masahiro] Tanaka and one of the young guys. I’ve got to be doing my best out there.”
That hasn’t always happened, as Nova has mixed excellent results with a lack of execution that has landed him back in the minors. He made three starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) last year when he was 9-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 23 (20 starts) big league games.
“That’s the past,” Nova said of his inconsistency. “It’s something you’ve got to go through. I’ve not seen anybody that got to the big leagues from the first day to the last day and was always consistent.”
His main goal for 2014 is staying healthy, he said. If he can do that and build on his strong finish to last year, the right-hander shouldn’t have to worry about more trips to Triple-A.
“We expect Nova to be in our rotation, but I like the attitude,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Nova believing he has to earn a spot. “You have to perform. This is a performance-based business, but expect him to be one of our starters.’’
Nova is also among those disappointed Robinson Cano is on his way to Arizona for spring training with the Mariners instead of Tampa with the Yankees.
“I haven’t talked to him in a little while,” Nova said. “Of course I want him here, but it’s a business. Everybody was thinking he was staying with the Yankees.’’
Hank’s Yanks, a 11-12 year-old team from Connecticut sponsored by Hank Steinbrenner, were at the stadium before playing a game in St. Petersburg. Third baseman/outfielder Ryan Janz, 12, of Fairfield, Conn., was fortunate to get Tanaka to sign the back of his pinstriped uniform.