The Yankees’ Jay Bruce comes with a big explosion, key defensive play

Jay Bruce made a great play at first base to throw Cedric Mullins out at home in the first inning of Tuesday’s 7-2 win over the Orioles at the stadium and then hit his first homer as a Yankee with a shot down from the right field line to open the second inning.

“It feels good to get the first one out of the way,” Bruce said of the homer.

When Bruce arrived for spring training with a minor league deal, he was confident his turn would play well at Yankee Stadium, and not just because of home runs, which he hit on Tuesday.

“I’m not hitting a ton of homers down the right field line,” Bruce said. “You see there, a flying ball hit well but really high, can perform 320 feet and be a home run. Listen, I̵

7;ve played in big parks, small parks and all the parks there are at this time. They all count the same, no matter how far they go. ”

Bruce added that he would not target the short porch to the right.

“I do not necessarily have to aim for it,” he said. “The risk is not necessarily worth rewarding for me. I’m aiming for the barrel. ”