Miguel Andujar’s return to The Bronx didn’t last long. He was optioned to the alternate site following Wednesday’s loss to Tampa Bay, the team announced Thursday.
So far, Andujar has struggled badly in his new role as more of a bench player, something manager Aaron Boone acknowledged before the move was announced.
“There’s no question it’s been challenging for him,’’ Boone said. “His attitude and work and trying to do everything to be successful in the role has been excellent. That said, it is a challenging thing. He’s a young player who missed an entire season and he’s trying to get back into the flow and add a [defensive] position.”
Andujar is just 2-for-21 on the season and was 1-for-7 after he was recalled from his initial alternate site demotion. He struck out as a pinch hitter Wednesday in the ninth inning.
Boone still has confidence Andujar can adapt to the job: “Sometimes you’ve got to go through struggles to figure that out. It doesn’t mean it can’t start to happen at some point.”
With Andujar optioned and Zack Britton placed on the IL with a strained left hamstring, the Yankees recalled right-handers Ben Heller and Miguel Yajure from the team’s alternate site in Scranton.
