Manager Aaron Boone delivered some good news about Miguel Andujar on Thursday before the series finale against the Angels.
Boone said the young third baseman will be playing in 4-5 innings at third base in an extended Spring Training game, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. And if he isn't bothered by his performance, Boone is optimistic he can return to the club in "about a week,"
The Yankees have been putting Andujar throwing and hitting program with the hope that he didn't need to undergo surgery on his partially torn labrum. He has been responding well to both programs, which is a good sign.
If Andujar doesn't need surgery, the Yankees could deploy him as mainly a DH, and Boone hasn't ruled out the possibility of him playing at first base. GM Brian Cashman said Monday "that's not an option I'd prefer" despite that option putting less stress on the labrum.
Andujar has only played in the Yankees' opening series against the Orioles, where he went 3-for-13 with one RBI. With Clint Frazier being the latest Yankee to hit the IL, the pinstripes would definitely love to see one of their key young players return.