Yankees Miguel Andujar to play extended Spring Training game

Before dropping the series finale to the Angels on Thursday night, Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Miguel Andujar would play in an extended Spring Training game on Friday.

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez was removed from the IL on Wednesday; could third baseman Miguel Andujar be next?

In an extended effort to avoid season-ending surgery to repair a slight tear in his right labrum, the Yanks have taken a conservative initiative with their talented 24-year-old slugger.

Soft tossing from 60 feet, then 90 and finally 120 — eventually led to hitting off a tee, then swings in the batting cage and finally live BP.

From all accounts, Andujar has reported no further pain and is set to play in an extended Spring Training game on Friday at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, FLA.

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As Bryan Hoch of MLB.com first reported, Andujar will man third base for 4-5 innings, and if he comes out unscathed, should begin a  brief rehab assignment before potentially returning to the 25-man roster in “about a week.”

Friday will be an enormous test for Andujar, as he has yet to take part in an actual game situation since hurting himself back on April 1. Throwing the ball even at 90 percent as recently noted, is much different than changing a ball and throwing across your body to eek out a runner.

Strain will undoubtedly be put on the all-important throwing arm of the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up — therefore we wait with bated breath for the reports out of Tampa on how he fared.

In the case of Andujar feeling any sort of unpleasantness from throwing, manager Aaron Boone suggests that the Yankees could keep Andujar’s bat in the lineup by slotting him in at first base or designated hitter.

However, general manager Brian Cashman told SNY he isn’t a fan of that possibility.

“That’s not an option I’d prefer,” said Cashman.

For all intent and purposes, we could very well see the triumphant return of the impactful bat of Miguel Andujar, give or take next weekend.

It’s no secret that Gio Urshela can handle the hot corner like no one’s business, but now he’s holding his own at the plate: .283/.358/.435 with four doubles, one homer, five RBIs and a 9:5 K:BB ratio across 58 plate appearances.

The 27-year-old former prospect with the Indians is offering the Yanks the confidence they need to deploy a mostly healthy Andujar as the DH while leaving Gio at third, making the entire infield more sound, defensively.