Rizzo, Soto show why Yanks' lineup should be feared

TAMPA, Fla. -- It takes a lot to divert Gerrit Cole from the art of pitching, considering he spends his off hours envisioning heaters and sliders puncturing quadrants over home plate. Yet even the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner can’t help but gush about the top of the new-look Yankees lineup.

Yes, it is only the first night in March, but Juan Soto promises to create seismic change in the Bronx this summer. Soto continued to rake on Friday, blasting a double and home run, while Anthony Rizzo homered twice in an 8-4 Grapefruit League romp over the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

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“I knew I would enjoy watching him,” Cole said of Soto. “But, like, I love watching him. It’s a real pleasure to get to watch him. That, I’m thankful for.”

So are the rest of the Yankees, who have savored a front-row seat for a pinstriped introduction that suggests Soto seems ready to fast-forward into the season, collecting two doubles and two homers through his first three spring games.

Soto doubled to deep center field in the first inning off Toronto starter Chad Dallas, then launched a 419-foot homer off the center field batter’s eye in the fourth inning while facing former Yankee Chad Green.

“He’s very, very professional,” Rizzo said. “He comes in, he has a great routine in the cage. He’s vocal with us; he talks, he’s easy to talk to, easy to pick his brain. Hopefully it’s on us to make him feel as comfortable as he can before Spring Training ends.”

Just as encouraging have been the early returns from Rizzo, who said that the fog has lifted after last year’s bout with post-concussion syndrome, with results to match.

“Not that I’m a superhero, but I feel like I’ve got some superpowers back,” Rizzo said. “I can see the ball the right way again and feel like I can do damage.”

The second inning on Friday provided an extreme example of how the Yankees envision wearing down opposing pitchers this season; DJ LeMahieu worked a seven-pitch walk, then stole second base with pitcher Juan Nunez distracted by Soto.

Nunez walked Soto on six pitches, then issued a four-pitch free pass to Aaron Judge that loaded the bases. Nunez grooved a fastball to Rizzo, who deposited it over the right-field wall for a grand slam, the stadium lights flickering as he trotted all the way back home.

“I know who’s hitting in front of me. It’s my job to make sure they’re getting the pitches,” said Rizzo, who added a second homer in the fourth inning off Green. “You can be patient, you can be aggressive. It’s really a cat-and-mouse game.

“It starts with whoever is leading off, Soto having 0-2 to 3-2 at-bats, Judge doing what he does. It’s very, very comfortable. I’ve hit behind Judge pretty much since I’ve been here, so there’s a comfort hitting behind him. Now with Soto in front of him, it’s just a whole other layer of an at-bat.”

Cole said that he senses Rizzo “really likes that position” of hitting fourth behind LeMahieu, Soto and Judge, which is how manager Aaron Boone will likely slot them all when the lights come on for real.

“It’s just a lot of those long, heavy at-bats,” Boone said. “You’re seeing it from DJ; he’s typically been 3-2. Juan, you feel like he’s going to kill the ball every time. I feel like Judge is getting good swings off, real calm to the ball, seeing it well. Look, it’s Spring Training, but for Rizz coming back from what he dealt with, to get some early results is nice.”

Putting his pitching cap back on, Cole appreciates being able to watch and cheer for that group, not needing to game-plan against them.

“It’s a lot of tough pitches that you’ve got to make in that situation,” Cole said. “It’s left-right-left, a lot of different styles; power, patience, a combination of both. All can throw up really quality at-bats in a row in a unique way, which makes it hard to pitch.”