Yankees giving Ryan McMahon the chance to seize backup shortstop role

TAMPA — Ryan McMahon is entering his 10th season in the majors.He spent five-plus years in the minors.In that time, he’s played a total of 9,451 innings at third base, nearly 2,182 innings at second base and 1,845 innings at first base.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.And only a few more than you at shortstop.With Aaron Boone eyeing his third baseman for the backup shortstop role to start the season, McMahon got much-needed reps at the position during the Yankees’ 11-1 exhibition win over Panama, but displayed the need for more while flubbing a relatively straightforward grounder.With José Caballero set to start the season at shortstop — and Anthony Volpe still recovering from shoulder surgery — McMahon could provide the Yankees with roster flexibility as the backup.

But before Tuesday, McMahon had only played three innings at shortstop as a pro, coming in 2020.“It feels, it looks so much different for me,” said McMahon, who was pulled after five innings.“There’s a lot more space.

I think I gained a little bit more respect for what these shortstops have to deal with on a daily basis.But it was fun getting out there.

I botched one, but I feel like if I see that one a couple more times that would be no problem.“I feel pretty comfortable out there.I think of myself as a baseball player.

I think if I just take some more reps I’ll be able to handle it.I think I’ll get better at it.”McMahon, who has received five consecutive Gold Glove nominations at third base, turned an inning-ending double play in the first, but fumbled a chance to end the fourth when he bobbled a grounder toward the middle.

He then recovered to handle another opportunity in the fifth.Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.

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