Jose Pirela better but still feeling effects of concussion
New York Yankees centerfielder Jose Pirela, right, waits to leave the field after crashing into the wall while chasing a ball hit for an inside-the-park home run by the New York Mets' Juan Lagares in the first inning of a spring training game Sunday, March 22, 2015, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: AP / John Bazemore
A day later, Jose Pirela was in better shape than Joe Girardi expected. But Pirela -- who has impressed the Yankees and opposing team scouts with his swing and ability to play multiple positions -- continues to feel the effects of the concussion he suffered Sunday in Port St. Lucie against the Mets.
"He's pretty good today," Girardi said. "He's sore. His neck is sore, too. He'll go back and see our doctors."
Team doctors will run Pirela through a battery of tests before allowing him back on the field. "We'll be careful with it," Girardi said of the utilityman, who is hitting .370 with a .433 OBP.
Pirela, who traveled here with the team yesterday, has received inquiries from all over regarding his condition. Former teammate Zelous Wheeler, now playing overseas, texted Yankees trainer Steve Donohue. "He saw [the replay] in Japan and wanted to know how he was doing," Girardi said. "Kind of a nice little story."
Young ready for whatever
Chris Young, who could be an important insurance policy with 37-year-old Carlos Beltran slated to start in rightfield, hit his first and second homers of spring training Monday.
"I showed up last year not knowing what would happen and I ended up playing quite a bit," Young said of what he expects his role to be this season. "So the entire goal is just be ready for whatever, be prepared for whatever situation is going to be thrown my way."
Young, 31, released by the Mets in mid-August last year, was a surprising spark for the Yankees in September, hitting .282/.354/.521 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 79 plate appearances. He is hitting .265 with a .324 OBP in spring training.
Extra bases
Brett Gardner went 0-for-4 Monday to lower his batting average to .132 with a .250 OBP . . . Infielder Rob Refsnyder, whose bat has been impressive but whose work in the field has not, had two hits to improve to .346 with a .433 OBP.
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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