TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees entered spring training with two names on the unofficial worry list. Both of them gave the organization exactly what it needed on Wednesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The timing could hardly have been better, with Opening Day just 13 days away.
Stanton silences the doubters with a two-homer night
Giancarlo Stanton put on a show in the Yankees’ 8-1 spring training victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, March 11. The 36-year-old designated hitter launched two home runs and drove in three runs, pushing his spring line to 4-for-11 with three home runs and four RBI since making his Grapefruit League debut on March 5.
The first shot came in the third inning off veteran left-hander Eric Lauer. With Randal Grichuk on base following an RBI double, Stanton connected for a two-run blast to left-center field that traveled a projected 411 feet. The Yankees blew the game open in that inning, scoring four runs to take a commanding lead.
The second came in the sixth against reliever Lazaro Estrada. Stanton drove a solo shot to center field, estimated at 415 feet. The two home runs combined for a projected total distance of 826 feet, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
The reason those numbers carry weight is the Yankees backstory that preceded them. Stanton revealed earlier in spring training that the epicondylitis in both elbows had been so painful last season that it affected basic daily functions. He was limited to 77 games in 2025, with his debut not coming until mid-June. The question of whether he could stay on the field for a full year was a real one heading into camp.
Wednesday’s performance reflected someone who has found his footing. Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to reporters afterward and was direct about what he has seen from Stanton over the past week.
“I feel like all of his at-bats have been really, really good. He’s not chasing. He’s controlling the strike zone. That’s what we saw him do a little better last year; not [having] some of the wild chases. He’s one of the guys that really benefits from his experience and applies it. I think he knows himself. He knows his routine and how to create a plan going into the games. I feel like he’s about ready to go.”
Stanton himself pointed to the value of repetition. Pregame preparation for the Yankees slugger is more involved now than it has ever been, but he credited his ability to establish that routine as the key to his current form.
“My timing is getting more precise, being able to replicate multiple games. I’ve been able to make the adjustments. The past game or two, my timing wasn’t there. I was able to go make the adjustments and come back and feel a little better. So that’s usually how spring goes.”
Schlittler bounces back with a strong second start
The other Yankees name on that unofficial concern list was Cam Schlittler. The 25-year-old right-hander entered 2026 as one of the most anticipated young starters in baseball after a breakout 2025 that included a legendary Wild Card Series start against the Red Sox. Then back inflammation delayed his first spring appearance by more than a week, raising the volume on questions that had been relatively quiet.
On Wednesday, Schlittler answered. He worked 3.2 innings against the Blue Jays, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out six. The Yankees newest ace threw 46 pitches, 36 of them for strikes. The stuff was sharp. The cutter, which he developed at Gerrit Cole’s urging during the second half of last season, averaged 94.9 mph in his first spring start and carried similar life Wednesday. His four-seamer sat comfortably in the upper 90s.
After the game, Schlittler was asked about his status for Opening Day. The answer was encouraging.
“Still a little bit I can work on, but really happy with the results.”
Boone indicated before the game that the Yankees plan to build Schlittler toward a pitch count of around 70 before the season opener, rather than the standard 90-plus a fully built-up starter would carry. With six innings of Grapefruit League work now on his ledger across two starts, the organization believes he is on pace.
Boone has not been shy about his confidence in Schlittler even at a reduced pitch count.
“I’ll take 70 pitches of Cam Schlittler, especially with some of the off days on the schedule.”
Schlittler was described as being in a “really good position” for Opening Day. The back issue that delayed him appears to be fully behind him, per club sources.
Lagrange steals the show from the bullpen
The most startling Yankees number from Wednesday’s game did not come from Stanton’s bat or Schlittler’s arm. It came from 21-year-old pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange, who closed out the game with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
The Yankees rookie averaged 101.5 mph across those four innings and did not allow a run. The young right-hander, a top prospect in the Yankees system, has been on Gerrit Cole’s radar since they shared space at the Florida Complex League facility in 2023. Cole has spoken openly in camp about his admiration for what Lagrange brings to the table.
Schlittler, who saw Lagrange up close as a fellow minor leaguer years ago, recalled the first time he watched the young right-hander throw.
“I remember it. It was 2023. Schlittler’s fastball was registering about 91 mph, and the young right-hander took a long look at Lagrange — a physical specimen, tall and lanky, throwing triple-digit heat seemingly without having to reach for it.”
Lagrange is not expected to be in the Opening Day rotation. The Yankees are focused on managing his development and controlling his walk rate before he factors into the starting conversation. But his performance Wednesday served as another reminder that the organization’s pitching pipeline runs deeper than the immediate roster picture suggests.
A 12-6 spring record with the right pieces gaining steam
The Yankees improved to 12-6 on the Grapefruit League schedule with Wednesday’s win. Toronto fell to 7-9. Beyond the record, the two-homer night from Stanton and the strong outing from Schlittler represent exactly what the team needed to see heading into the final two weeks of camp.
Trent Grisham and Randal Grichuk each added RBI doubles in the third inning. Jonathan Ornelas contributed a solo home run in the sixth, and Cole Gabrielson added another in the eighth. Kervin Castro worked 1.1 scoreless innings in relief before Lagrange took over.
The Yankees open the regular season March 25 in San Francisco against the Giants. That game will air on Netflix in the streaming platform’s MLB debut. With Stanton finding his timing and Schlittler rounding into form, the Yankees arrive at that date looking considerably healthier than they did two weeks ago.
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