Jon Berti got his feet wet at first base during workouts last week, but now he is taking the plunge in Game 2 of the ALDS.
The Yankees will have Berti starting at first base Monday against the Royals for the first time in his career.
Oswaldo Cabrera started there in Game 1, with veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo not making the roster because of fractured fingers, and the utilityman looked good defensively.
But the Yankees are changing it up for Game 2 against lefty Cole Ragans.
Berti, who has started games at third base, second base, shortstop and all three outfield spots in his career, has previously played first base in spring training but never in the regular season or playoffs until Monday.
“I was really pleased with what I saw from him [during workouts last week],” Aaron Boone said Saturday. “Obviously he’s a talented infielder, but just feel like – and he’s played a little bit there in the past in spring training games and things like that. But he looked, albeit practice, very comfortable to me, how I would have hoped. So I would consider it.”
Boone had previously indicated he wanted to get most of his left-handed hitters in the lineup against Ragans, who has reverse splits, but instead he took one out (Cabrera is a switch-hitter) for the right-handed hitting Berti.