With Anthony Rizzo manning first base, Josh Donaldson at third, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop, it was likely that one of the Yankees' many infielders would have to sit especially with the designated hitter spot being occupied mostly by Giancarlo Stanton.

Boone, who is entering his sixth season managing the Yanks, brought up a meeting he had with the team a couple of weeks ago where he broached the topic of who will start. Boone told the players to be prepared to not start Opening Day, which he feels helped prepare Torres for his decision.

Torres was told Thursday he wouldn't be starting Opening Day -- after starting the last three -- and said that his infielder was OK if not a bit disappointed.

"There was going to be some tough decisions along the way. It’s going to serve [the players] well because they’ll be able to protect each other along the way," Boone said. "Everyone understands and we’re all in on this. He’ll be ok."

In Torres' stead is LeMahieu who started at second base last year -- Torres started at shortstop -- and brings a veteran presence to this lineup.

"It’s the right thing to do today to have [LeMahieu] in that lineup. I want him in the middle of our lineup," Boone said of his decision to start LeMahieu. "Feel like he’s in a good place leaving spring training heading into the season. Frankly, I feel that way about Gleyber, too."

This spring, LeMahieu batted .300 with one home run and two RBI. Torres hit a comparable .294 with three home runs and five RBI. It's those numbers that have the Yankees excited to see Torres have a bounce-back season after batting just .259 with nine home runs a year ago, and why Torres will be in the starting lineup a lot this season.

"You’ll see Gleyber there after today and maybe has the most important at-bat today, who knows," Boone said. "You’ll probably see him there the next three, four, five days in a row."

The Yankees begin the 2022 regular season with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx.

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