3 Yankees peaking at right time as spring training ends

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Spring Training wins, losses and statistics do not matter whatsoever -- unless a player is performing extremely poorly or extremely well. Then, they're the fuel to our preseason fire.

Nobody wants to stand out like a sore thumb, which is why a .500 spring is basically the best-case fan scenario. Lose too many games, and unnecessary panic ensues. Win too many, and you can't help but look at the record cockeyed, going, "Hmm...feels like we're wasting these." It's the same with offensive and pitching performances. Hit .290, and everyone's satisfied. Hit .423 with seven bombs, and it's like ... OK, you're 2022 Kyle Higashioka.

The best-case scenario is a spring that peaks at the right time, about a week before the season is set to start, which engenders confidence in a hot Opening Week. If you're going to hit spring bombs or rack up March strikeouts, it's best to do so with a clear pathway to Opening Day, when these things start to count.

These three Yankees have momentum headed into the regular season. Hopefully, it translates.

3 Yankees heating up as Opening Day approaches

Luis Severino, RHP

Fans have been waiting for Luis Severino to arrive all spring long, as the right-hander searched for ways to make his slider not "suck" (his words, not ours). With big-ticket offseason addition Carlos Rodón out with a forearm strain and right-hander Frankie Montas out for the better part of the season, the pressure was ratcheted up on Severino, Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes to stay healthy and effective.

The early results on Sevy? Not so great. The fastball velocity was there. The offspeed stuff was getting tarred and feather; he followed up an 8.22 ERA 2022 camp with a 10.63 mark in his first four starts of 2023. Not great, Bob! Not great for anyone of any pedigree.

Luckily, Severino recovered in his fifth outing, finally pairing his 97-98 MPH fastball with effective changeups and breaker, striking out nine in four impressive innings. And yes, he had to shake off a leadoff home run and two-out RBI double in the first just to get there.

Is it "baby steps" to be impressed by a nine-K outing of no significance against the Tigers? Sure. But it's a hell of a lot better than watching your No. 3 starter in a contract year getting squared up time and again. One more whiff-filled start and we'll be sold.

Anthony Volpe, SS

OK, fine. Anthony Volpe's been dominant since Spring Training began, opening eyes by swiping second base on a pitchout against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, then taking third on the very next pitch. He also created a double out of thin air, hustling into second base despite the Blue Jays right fielder pleading with him not to using terrified body language. Sucks to suck.

Technically, the entirety of camp was probably the "right time" for him to peak, considering how much room he had to grow during only a few weeks' time. Volpe's long been an "idea" for many Yankee fans rather than an in-practice superstar. After an otherworldly 2021 season, his .249 average (with 21 homers and 50 stolen bases, but still...) in 2022 turned some casual fans off and led to rivals screaming that he was overrated (despite also never actually seeing him play).

2023's Spring Training performance was more about his raw athleticism that popped off the screen rather than counting numbers, but still, the total package has resulted in Volpe being more emphasized at the end of camp than he was at the beginning. He entered March with almost no chance to start on Opening Day -- service time concerns, Oswald Peraza's experience edge, the shortstop vs. second base conundrum, etc. Now? The service time issue is still real, but he's got a legitimate chance to break camp. At worst, it feels like Volpe'll be up in late April as soon as the service time issues expire. That's how it's done.

Josh Donaldson, 3B

The Yankees' infield logjam features an overload of middle infield options, leading to a difficult decision regarding the usage of both DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres.

That remains an issue because of just how entrenched Josh Donaldson feels at third base, even after a plus-defense, little offense season (94 OPS+ after a 127 mark in 2021, too many called strikes to count last year). The glove should've been golden. The offense didn't merit a starting job for a championship-contending team.

But now, maybe (maybe!) Donaldson is finding his offensive stride at the right time.

It'll take much more than a few puff pieces boasting about how he would've retired if he didn't think he could still hack it to get Yankee fans believing. They passed the point of no return long ago, when Donaldson spent most of the second half looking like Todd Frazier vs. Justin Verlander (after setting the game aflame with his comments directed at Tim Anderson).

If he's going to play, though ... he might as well hit. And he's definitely going to play. Donaldson smacked two home runs in Tuesday's action after shortening his leg kick in a dedicated adjustment aimed at simplifying his swing. Whether it translates to the regular season or not, he's decidedly working on it, rather than resigning himself to cashing checks and struggling as another season goes off the rails.

As Aaron Boone stated Tuesday after Donaldson's strong BP rhythm translated into the game:

To go out and get results in the game is encouraging. He’s capable of that. It’s absolutely still in there. He’s twitchy. He’s strong. He’s got power. He’s just got to get that — he got dinged a little bit last year. He’s just got to know that that’s still in there. Because it is.
Aaron Boone

We have no choice but to hope he's right.

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3 Yankees heating up as Opening Day approaches

Luis Severino, RHP

Anthony Volpe, SS

Josh Donaldson, 3B

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