Yanks gather for first informal workout since training cancellation

TAMPA, Fla. — From the distance of a football field, through a chain link fence, you could see DJ LeMahieu taking ground balls for about 20 minutes on an almost empty backfield at a locked down George M. Steinbrenner Field complex Saturday morning.

A few fans wandered around outside trying to make out their favorite players. Some posed for pictures in front of the statue of “The Boss,” the late legendary owner, while trucks pulled the video production trailers and vending kiosks out of the ballpark, which will be closed for weeks.

This is the Yankees new spring training under national emergency and in the age of the coronavirus.

After MLB suspended all spring training operations and announced it would delay the start of the season at least two weeks abruptly on Thursday evening, players were given three options. They could head back to their offseason homes, they could head to the city of their major league team or they could remain in their team's spring training home and continue to work out at the facilities informally. The Yankees choose as a team to stay and continue their workouts and Saturday was the first day of that new odd reality.

The Yankees cut back their personnel to those that are essential to keep the players training, sending others back to New York. Coaches like Carlos Mendoza are helping run the informal workouts. Manager Aaron Boone was also remaining and had plans to be at the facility with the team. The team is still providing meals, meal money and help with housing.

But, it's a decidedly different setting for the team, who are used to working out in front of crowds and media.

“It's pretty strange, obviously a difficult situation but we're trying our best to do what we can,” Mendoza said.

Saturday, LeMahieu, Gio Urshela and Tyler Wade were among the infielders there to work on drills. Outfielders Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier were in to hit and do drills. Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Jonathan Holder were among the pitchers there on Saturday.