Early in spring training, it was obvious the Yankees weren’t going to move Aaron Judge out of right field and Giancarlo Stanton would have to adjust to a heavy dose of designated hitter with an occasional start in left field.

And those appearances in left would come at Fenway Park and Camden Yards, where the ball hits off the Green Monster or lands in the seats thanks to cozy dimensions.

Then there was the likelihood Aaron Boone wouldn’t want to keep left fielder and leadoff hitter Brett Gardner out of the lineup often.
Now, 46 games into the season, Boone has started Stanton in left field (17 games) almost as many times as at DH (21). Stanton also has started seven games in right.

“He has played better than I thought,’’ the manager said of Stanton, who not only had to adjust from playing right field to manning left, but also being a regular DH for the first time.

When Gardner started the season hitting .198 (24-for-121) with a .320 on-base percentage and 33 strikeouts to 24 hits from March 29 to May 8, some thought not starting four of the Yankees’ first 10 games against a lefty had something to do with it.

Since May 9, Gardner has found his stride at the plate, where he is hitting .342 (13-for-38) with a .468 on-base percentage, a .994 OPS and has whiffed four times. And it hasn’t come because he is playing against lefties since he didn’t start the past two games against them.

“Not really, I wish I had something concrete for you,’’ Gardner said when asked if he made adjustments at the plate. “Obviously, see some pitches and make the pitcher work and try to take my ‘A’ swing. I am not as consistent as I want to be.’’

As for Stanton in left field, he has progressed to the point at which Boone said he feels comfortable starting him at Yankee Stadium, where left field is a lot bigger than in most parks.

“When we are at home I don’t sit there and say, ‘I have to have Brett out there in left,’ ” Boone said of how well Stanton has played the position.