MLB

Betances has ‘Manny’ highlights for Yankees

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Dellin Betances looked at the on-deck circle and saw Manny Ramirez waiting to hit.

Betances, a 6-foot-8 right-handed Yankees pitching prospect, and Ramirez each grew up in Washington Heights and played in the vaunted Youth Services program.

Ramirez developed into one of baseball’s all-time best hitters, and Betances has the potential to be a dominating pitcher.

“I knew Manny was coming up and I wanted to treat him like another guy,” the soon-to-be 24-year-old product of Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn said. “He isn’t another guy. He has the dreadlocks coming out from under the hat. When I had two strikes, I wanted a punch-out, and I am glad I got it.”

PROSPECTS COUNTDOWN

Betances, who had a rocky outing (one run, one hit and three walks in 1 2⁄3 innings), caught Ramirez looking at a breaking ball.

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Russell Martin is scheduled to debut behind the plate tonight against the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Martin hasn’t caught yet because of slight stiffness in his surgically repaired right knee. He went 0-for-3 as the DH yesterday.

“Four or five innings,” Joe Girardi said when asked how long Martin would catch. “It’s not like he isn’t in shape.”

Martin will use a 12-ounce brace on the knee.

“He did drills [with the brace], and I don’t see it hindering him,” Girardi said.

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You get the feeling Johnny Damon would enjoy playing baseball anywhere in the world. He liked K.C, Oakland, Boston, The Bronx and Detroit. Nothing has changed in a Rays uniform.

“I love it,” Damon said. “I am happy to get a chance to be an everyday player.”

As for competing against the Red Sox and Yankees, Damon is up for the challenge.

“You got to be at your best every single day,” said Damon, who is slated to play left field. “Everybody got better in the AL East. Hopefully, we are the team to beat.”

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Eric Chavez started at first base yesterday and had one of the Yankees’ four hits, a double.

Girardi said if Chavez is healthy, he can play third base. What the manager wants is to see if Chavez can handle first base well enough to fill in for Mark Teixeira.

Jorge Posada is to participate in first-base drills tomorrow.

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Andrew Brackman, who had been sidelined by a hip/groin problem, threw a bullpen session yesterday in Tampa.

“We will get him a simulated game [Saturday] and go from there,” Girardi said.

Rafael Soriano is to throw his first batting-practice session today.