USF baseball will get a major-league test in March as the Bulls will play an exhibition against the New York Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on March 2 to open spring training for the 27-time World Champions.

"We're excited -- it's a neat thing for the kids to be able to play against Derek Jeter and (Jorge) Posada and A-Rod and all those guys," coach Lelo Prado said. "Last time we did it it was a great day for our kids, just being around a team like that for a few hours."

It's the second time in four years the Bulls will get to face the Yankees -- the Bulls took an 11-4 loss in 2008, the highlight of which was pinch-hitter Eric Baumann hitting a grand slam off reliever Kei Igawa.

USF and the Yankees have had a long relationship, with the Tampa Yankees playing at USF's old Red McEwen Field in 1994-95 with current stars Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera among those playing on campus while Legends Field was being built. Former Yankees star Tino Martinez is Prado's brother-in-law and has worked as a volunteer assistant with the Bulls.