TAMPA — Donnie Moore is a Northern California educational and motivational speaker who also runs baseball-chapel gatherings in Oakland.
Yesterday, Moore was brought into the Yankees clubhouse to address the players and left them with mouths open.
In addition to preaching a vision is needed before success reached, Moore put on several displays of mental and physical strength.
“He rolled a frying pan like a burrito,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.
Moore also broke a bat with his hands and ripped a phone book and a can in half.
“That guy was amazing. To see that guy roll that frying pan was pretty exciting,’’ Robinson Cano said. “And to rip a can in half, rip the phone book, it was unbelievable. It shows you can control, with your mind, what you can do. Everybody was looking at each other like, ‘Are you serious?’ It helps hearing that kind of positive message, especially in baseball because you are going to struggle. That is a guy who has something special.’’
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Hall of Famer Yogi Berra arrived in camp Wednesday. Berra, 87 in May, didn’t put on uniform No. 8 for the game.
“I felt like camp started today; Yogi’s here,’’ Girardi said. “It kind of puts a smile on everyone’s face.’’
A year ago, Rafael Soriano didn’t want to pitch against AL East teams in spring training. Wednesday, he strolled into Steinbrenner Field and informed the Yankees’ staff he wanted an inning against the Rays.
“He said he was ready and we put him on the list. For whatever reason he wanted to get out there,’’ Girardi said of the right-handed reliever who worked a scoreless inning in the Yankees’ 4-0 loss to the Rays. He allowed a hit, a walk and fanned two.
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Mariano Rivera will throw batting practice for the second time Thursday and appears to be on schedule to make his exhibition season debut this weekend.
“Sunday, in a game,’’ he said Wednesday.
That means Rivera will face the Phillies Sunday at Steinbrenner Field.
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Joba Chamberlain will throw strictly fastballs off a bullpen mound Friday and then throw breaking balls on flat ground Sunday.
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After working out with Derek Jeter during the winter at the Yankees’ minor league complex, minor league shortstop Cito Culver was spotted wearing Jeter’s No. 2 at the minor league facility this week.
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Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova are the highest-profile Yankees the club has agreed with on one-year contracts.
Pineda, who is expected to be in Girardi’s rotation, will receive $528,475. Nova, who will likely join Pineda as a starter, gets $527,200.
Eduardo Nunez and reliever Corey Wade will make $523,800 and $508,925, respectively.