Giancarlo Stanton did not pick up where he left off in the playoffs.
The DH went 0-for-5, struck out in his final three at-bats and heard boos after each of his final two plate appearances in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss in 10 innings on Opening Day in The Bronx on Thursday.
Manager Aaron Boone said he didn’t think the poor reception from the crowd would impact the slugger.
“Why I’m so excited about the year I think he’s gonna have, is his process is so good, his game plan is so good and he’s diligent,’’ Boone said. “[Thursday] was a tough day for him. I don’t worry about it because he’s too talented and knows what he’s doing and what the league is trying to do to him. It will play itself out over time. The biggest thing is to make sure he posts all the time.”
Lucas Luetge made it back to the majors Wednesday when he was added to the Yankees roster — and he nearly made it into their Opening Day loss.
Luetge was up in the bullpen in the top of the ninth, but didn’t get in the game.
Still, Luetge was happy to be with the Yankees, six years after last appearing in the big leagues.
“It was just everything I’ve been hoping for the last five or six years, finally came true,” he said before the game. “You just feel that sense of joy again.”
Luetge, who last appeared in the majors in 2015 with the Mariners, won a job in the Yankees’ bullpen thanks to a strong spring training performance coupled with the shoulder tightness that put Justin Wilson on the injured list to begin the season.
Across 10 ¹/₃ innings of Grapefruit League play, Luetge struck out 18 batters while giving up just two runs. He then spent the final days of camp anxiously waiting to hear if he had made the roster before Boone finally called him on Tuesday with the good news, allowing him to breathe a little easier.
“When you’re out of the game or the big leagues for so long, you realize how quick it can go from you,’’ Luetge said. “While you’re up here, it seems like you’re going to be here forever. I kind of have that appreciation now, just to take it all in, look around the stadium, enjoy it, instead of just trying to look cool and act like you don’t care.”
The journey back to the big leagues made Thursday’s opener all the more special for Luetge.
“At some points you start doubting yourself, because even when you’re having a good year, like I’ve had the last two years, if you don’t get that call, you’re like, ‘Am I just wasting my time?’ ” Luetge said. “When you’re here, everything’s great, the money’s great, life is great. When you’re not, it’s just a struggle to get back up. So now, enjoy what you’re doing. A lot of people wish they could do it. Just look around and enjoy.”
— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce