TAMPA — Francisco Cervelli is far away from the political unrest in his native Venezuela, but that didn’t stop the Yankees’ catcher from posting a photo on his Instagram account Thursday pleading for peace.
“I am not trying to be political, I play baseball but I care about people,’’ said Cervelli, who was photographed with CC Sabathia, Eduardo Nunez, Ichiro Suzuki and other Yankees, some holding the Venezuela flag, some with signs reading PAZ (peace). “My mom and dad are still there. We have so many people dying and that’s not the way my family raised me.’’
According to Cervelli, his sister delivered a baby outside of Venezuela before the situation started and can’t get home.
“It’s hard to come back,’’ Cervelli said. “It’s hard to get flights so they have to wait. They are in another country.’’
David Phelps did nothing to hurt his favorite status in the race for the fifth spot in manager Joe Girardi’s rotation.
Making his first exhibition-season appearance, the right-hander worked two innings, allowed two hits, one run, fanned four and didn’t issue a walk in an 8-2 loss to the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“I was trying to throw strikes, that was the biggest thing today,’’ said Phelps, who gave up a second-inning homer to Gregory Polanco. “I didn’t get behind and the fastball control was there.’’
Adam Warren, a close friend of Phelps’ and a rotation candidate, starts Friday against the Tigers in Lakeland. Michael Pineda, a third competitor, will pitch a simulated game Sunday or Monday. If there are no problems, Pineda likely would get into a game next week.
Reliever Francisco Rondon is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a left shoulder problem. Jose Ramirez, who had a strong chance of making the club as a right-handed reliever, went for MRI exams on an oblique muscle and back. Ramirez’ back locked up Wednesday in Bradenton, Fla., while throwing in the bullpen.
Outfield prospect Tyler Austin said his right wrist is making progress. He was shut down earlier in the week with the same problem he battled last year in the Arizona Fall League.
Pirates lefty Jeff Locke grew up a Red Sox fan in New Hampshire and didn’t have much use for most Yankees, with an exception: Derek Jeter.
“It’s the Yankees, a legendary franchise. I got to face Derek Jeter for the first time. I don’t care if it’s Wiffle ball or the big leagues, it’s cool. He’s somebody I idolized as a kid. He’s the only Yankee I gave a pass to. I always enjoyed watching him play, even to this day, exhibition or anything,’’ said the reliever, who retired Jeter on a grounder to third in the fourth inning.
“Just the way he handles himself on a daily basis. You don’t ever know what’s really on his mind, but you know he comes to play hard. I’m sure he’s the favorite player of at least five guys in this room. We’ve got a young team, so a lot of guys grew up watching him play.”