DUNEDIN, Fla. — During a normal season, most players won’t see the spring training ballpark again once heading north, since most serve as Single-A stadiums.
But because of Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions, the Blue Jays are scheduled to play the first month of the regular season — at least — at their Low-A venue, TD Ballpark, where the Yankees won, 1-0, on Wednesday.
The Yankees will be back on their first trip of the season, a three-game series from April 12-14, and Clint Frazier isn’t thrilled about it.
Asked about how it compares to major league parks, the left fielder said, “It’s way different.”
“Obviously, it doesn’t have a third deck and there were really high skies,’’ Frazier said of the conditions Wednesday. “The wind was blowing like crazy hard out there.”
The most significant challenge is dealing with the effects of the sun.
“It’s hard to see because of the way the seats have all the reflections off them,’’ Frazier said. “Unfortunately, we’re gonna have to play at it a few times, probably.”
Jordan Montgomery had no issues, throwing five no-hit innings.
“I liked it,’’ the left-hander said. “It was a good mound, good playing surface. It felt like a big league ballpark. … It was just like pitching anywhere.”
Of the three games in April, two are scheduled for 6:30 and one at 3.
“Just like other stadiums, they have things to work around,” Frazier said. “It’s unfortunate there’s a couple more piled on top of the things we have to deal with. Hopefully, it’s different with night games and you can just go out and avoid reflections.”
There didn’t appear to be any miscues due to the conditions Wednesday.
“I felt like I dealt with it pretty well today,’’ Frazier said. “You put on sunglasses and be as focused as you can the entire time. Not every stadium has perfect settings. I came out alive today, like the rest of us did. That’s the goal.”
Montgomery said he’s not sure what the clubhouse setup will be when they return, but he knows it’ll be better than some of what he and others saw coming through the minors.
“It can’t be worse than Low-A Savannah,’’ Montgomery said. “I’ve been through the worst of the worst.”
Montgomery, who played for Charleston in the South Atlantic League in 2015, when Savannah was still a Mets affiliate, said the Savannah stadium had clogged showers and “stains everywhere.”
“It was disgusting,’’ Montgomery said of the team that relocated to Columbia the following year. “The shower leaked into the locker room and the carpet was always wet. … It was definitely a Low-A locker room. The big leagues are much nicer.”