TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine and Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera will meet in the first inning Friday for the first time since Cabrera's punch sparked a series of brawls last August.
Romine will be catching when Cabrera comes to the plate as designated hitter at Steinbrenner Field in the Grapefruit League opener for both clubs.
One of the other main combatants from last year's fight, the Yankees' Gary Sanchez, is not playing. Manager Aaron Boone said that decision was unrelated to Sanchez's role in last year's melee.
Some of the players on the field today were not around last year, including both managers and Tigers starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter, who signed as a free agent over the winter.