Yanks' busy day: Judge debuts, LeMahieu exits, Lombard tees off

TAMPA, Fla. -- With his first Grapefruit League at-bats of the year under his belt, Aaron Judge said he believes a heavier spring workload could ward off another slow start to his regular season.

Judge went 1-for-2 with a two-run single in the Yankees’ 9-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Astros on Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and the captain said he’d like to log about 40-50 at-bats before the regular season begins on March 27 against the Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

“I’ve been trying to do a lot of stuff on the back fields or whatever,” Judge said. “I’m shooting for 40-50 [at-bats]; I think that might help us start April off a little better.”

Judge said he counts those back-field at-bats, like the ones he took earlier in camp off Gerrit Cole and others, in the tally. Last year, Judge was 5-for-24 (.208) in Grapefruit League play.

He hit .220 (22-for-100) with six homers and 17 RBIs in March/April (Judge’s batting average was under .200 as late as April 27), but he posted OPS numbers over 1.000 in each subsequent month on his way to winning his second American League MVP Award.

“I definitely felt ready going into Opening Day, but when you reflect on the season, you kind of look back [and think], ‘Well, what can I maybe try to improve?’” Judge said. “If you want to improve your bench press, you do more bench presses, push-ups -- whatever you’ve got to do.

“So, if I want to improve on the season, maybe I need more at-bats. Maybe that will help me start off the season a little better. So, we definitely felt prepared. Just looking through it, maybe this is one avenue that can help us get off to a better start.”

Difficulty for DJ

DJ LeMahieu “tweaked” his left calf in his second at-bat on Saturday, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who indicated the infielder could miss time.

“That’s not ideal, just with all that he’s had to deal with,” Boone said. “We’ll see what we have there, and we’ll see how significant it is. These soft tissue things have popped up on him, so it’s at least a little concerning.”

Serving as the designated hitter, Saturday marked LeMahieu’s first game of the spring after numerous live batting practice sessions. He ended last season on the injured list with a right hip impingement and also missed time with a right foot contusion.

LeMahieu is considered a leading option to be the Yanks’ Opening Day third baseman, though if the injury is significant, it would mean increased opportunities for contenders Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas.

Teenage dream

George Lombard Jr. is the youngest player in camp at 19, and the Yankees prospect announced his presence in his first at-bat on Saturday, blasting a solo homer off the left-field scoreboard.

Lombard’s drive off Houston’s Bennett Sousa traveled 414 feet and came off the bat at 108.4 mph, according to Statcast.

“Once I hit it, I knew it was going to have a good shot,” Lombard said. “Halfway to first [base], I knew it was gone. I didn’t even check to see where it landed. I knew I got it pretty good. It’s a cool feeling.”

Boone said Lombard, who started Saturday at third base, has shown himself to be a “special” defender who has also had a lot of good at-bats early in camp.

“That was a no-doubter,” Boone said of the homer. “That’s a little peek. You see a young, physical kid continuing to develop into his body with unbelievable makeup and work ethic; just a really talented athlete. He’s an exciting player with an exciting future.”

Injury report

Luis Gil (right shoulder) was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday. Boone said the club would provide results on Sunday or Monday.