Ben Rortvedt improving but won't be ready for Opening Day

LAKELAND, Fla. — Aaron Boone confirmed Friday what had been apparent for the better part of a week: Backup catcher Ben Rortvedt, out for the last two weeks with a Grade 1 right oblique strain, is all but a lock to start the season on the injured list.

Though Rortvedt has begun doing a full range of baseball activities the last few days — including catching Jordan Montgomery’s simulated game Friday —  Boone said he won’t get in any of the Yankees' remaining spring training games and will need a yet-to-be-determined number of minor-league rehab games before he’s declared ready.

“I feel like I’m making strides,” Rortvedt said. “Felt better [today] than after the last live BP I caught . . . We don’t want any setbacks, so we’re trying to really give it its time.”

Lefthanded-hitting Rob Brantly is a heavy favorite to start the season as Kyle Higashioka’s backup — he offers lineup diversification and also has the most big-league experience of the catchers left in camp — but Boone said David Freitas and Max McDowell also will be considered for the job.

“They’re all right there in the mix,” Boone said. “There’s a case to be made going several different ways there.”

Big bopper

Higashioka hit his team-leading fifth homer of the Grapefruit League season against the Tigers on Friday, lining a 2-and-0, 93-mph fastball to right-center off righty Drew Hutchinson. Higashioka is 9-for-20 (.450) with a 1.676 OPS in eight games.

Sevy good for Saturday

Luis Severino, who threw a bullpen session Wednesday instead of starting against the Blue Jays because of what the club called “general” arm soreness, said Friday he planned to take the mound Saturday against Atlanta.

“Pretty good, pretty normal,” he said of his arm. “Ready for my start tomorrow.”

Monty: I’m all set

Montgomery threw a 60-pitch simulated game Friday, his last exhibition “start,”  though Boone said the lefthander  likely will have a one-inning appearance before  spring training is over.

“It’s crazy,” Montgomery, who likely will be slotted fourth in the rotation, said of the notion of the regular season starting after 3 ½ weeks of spring training. “I tried to lock it in and treat today like it was a game, and I’m happy with how it went. I’m not lengthened out, but I’m ready.”

Roster doings

Boone reiterated Friday what he said Thursday — with the expanded 28-man rosters in the month of April, the only decision for the team will be whether to take 15 pitchers or 16.

If the Yankees take 16 pitchers, that would leave Boone with a three-man bench.

“It’s not ideal, [I’d] love a four-game bench, and we may end up going that way, but we’ll see,” Boone said.  

 The Yankees reassigned righthanders Matt Bowman and Ryan Weber, infielder-outfielder Phillip Evans, infielders Ronald Guzmán and Jose Peraza and outfielder Ryan LaMarre to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.