Observations from the Yankees spring training on Saturday:
Wells to do
In his last game before leaving for the WBC, Austin Wells crushed his first home run of the spring, a no-doubter off Blue Jays minor league righty Nate Garkow.
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Cruz under control
Fernando Cruz, also headed for the WBC, battled some command issues in his inning of relief, issuing a pair of walks that loaded the bases. But he got out of trouble unscathed with a double play.
Austin Wells round the bases after hitting a two-run homer in sixth inning of the Yankees’ 5-1 spring training win over the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Feb. 28, 2026. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Caught my eye
Before Cruz escaped the jam, he tried to get a 1-1 pitch to Davis Schneider flipped from a ball to a strike via the ABS.
Just as Cruz started to tap his cap to signal a challenge, Wells tried to shake him off, knowing the pitch was well out of the strike zone. But the catcher was too late, as the Yankees lost a challenge.
Sunday’s schedule
Will Warren makes his second start of the spring when the Yankees visit the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.
