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Try it freeTAMPA — The Cousins cousins had a family reunion Saturday at Yankees camp.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins came to Steinbrenner Field to visit relative and Yankees reliever Jake Cousins, and to make the rounds before taking in a game against the Astros.
While the quarterback-needy Giants and Jets could use one like Kirk Cousins, it remains to be seen whether the Falcons will cut him this offseason before the second season of a four-year, $180 million deal and set Michael Penix Jr. as their starter going forward.
Jake Cousins, who is set to start a throwing program Monday after being shut down for five weeks with a forearm strain, would not mind having his cousin around the New York area.
“That’d be cool because typically it’s hard for us to see each other’s events or be in the same area, just because we’re opposite seasons and kind of overlap,” he said recently. “So if we’re in the same area, it’d be cool to see each other more often.”
Clarke Schmidt threw one inning of live batting practice Saturday for the first time since dealing with a cranky back last week.
It was the first time that the right-hander has faced hitters since camp started, though he had thrown live a few times before spring training began.
“He looked awesome,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Not surprising, right? I called balls and strikes for it and it was really good. He was sharp, electric.”
Schmidt threw about 20 pitches, including strikeouts of Oswaldo Cabrera and Trent Grisham.
If he bounces back from this session well, he is expected to throw one more before getting into game action.
Ben Rice continued to make noise at the plate, drilling a home run that came off the bat at 113.3 mph.
After adding some muscle in the offseason, the catcher/first baseman has been noticeably hitting balls harder this spring.
The Yankees made their first round of cuts from big league camp Saturday, reassigning RHP Sean Boyle, OF Brennen Davis, RHP Chase Hampton, RHP Cristian Hernández, LHP Jayvien Sandridge, RHP Kevin Stevens, RHP Leonardo Pestana and C Omar Martinez to minor league camp.
Jen Pawol, a New Jersey native who played softball at Hofstra, was the home plate umpire Saturday. Pawol spent last season umpiring at Triple-A.
“I actually went up and introduced myself there later in the game,” Boone said. “Had a pleasant interaction with her. She has a good reputation.
“I thought she missed a couple calls on the captain in that first [inning],” Boone added with a grin, “but overall I thought she did a good job. Certainly enjoyed my introduction to her.”