TAMPA -- In the same lineup as new competitor Neil Walker for the first time, Yankees second baseman Tyler Wade made a statement three pitches into Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Facing righty Sandy Baez, the lefty-swinging Wade lined an 0-2 pitch into the right-center gap, then he anteloped all the way to third base for a leadoff triple.
His next time up, Wade went the other way and laced a double to left-center.
The Yankees have seen enough from Wade, whose spring average shot up to .