3 Yankees peaking at right time as spring training ends

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.