Why Yankees’ Luke Voit is confident he’s not next Shane Spencer

Yankees first baseman Luke Voit is confident he’s not a flash in the pan, and he explained why after a loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Sunday.

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BOSTON — Shane Spencer will live in Yankees lore for showing up as a rookie in 1998, bashing a whole bunch of September home run and helping the club to its second of four World Series titles in its dynasty run.

What he’s less remembered for is, well, the rest of his career. Spencer played another six seasons in the majors, also spending time with the Mets, Rangers and Indians, never recapturing his initial magic.

To be clear: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a big-league flash in the pan.

Luke Voit, in just his second season, doesn’t think he’s one of them.

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Voit was asked if he ever imagined being in his current position — a hot-hitting starting first baseman for a team heading into the playoffs. Of course, said Voit, who will man the position when the Yankees face the A’s in the American League Wild Card at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

“This is the first time I got an opportunity,” Voit told reporters after hitting yet another home run in the Yankees’ 10-2 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the final game of the regular season.

“I’m just trying to do anything I can to help this team win. Things are finally clicking.”

Clicking, firing on all cylinders — whatever.

Since Aug. 24, Voit has clubbed 14 home runs while hitting .351 with 31 RBI in 32 games. He’s helped carry the Yankees’ offense when it was missing an injured Aaron Judge and while Giancarlo Stanton struggled. He also snatched the starting job from Greg Bird, who played so poorly he finally ran out the long leash his status as a top young talent afforded him.

Voit doesn’t look like he’ll be giving it back any time soon.

“I’m learning a lot, learning a lot about myself,” Voit said. “Just sticking to it. I always knew I could hit. It’s just finally getting the chance to play every day and getting everyday at-bats and seeing guys and learning from what they did to me previously and attacking how they’re going to attack my weaknesses and sometimes they’re going to pitch to my strengths and just try to stay within myself and just use my approach.”

The Yankees acquired Voit as first base insurance just before the trade deadline after they sent Tyler Austin to Minnesota in a deal for Lance Lynn. But the Yankees’ front office saw the 27-year-old, who was mostly a minor-league with the Cardinals, as a breakout candidate.

He’s broken out, especially with his power. Voit hit just 65 home runs over six minor-league seasons.

“It’s something I’m just kind of growing into,” Voit said. “I’m learning a lot about my body and what I can do with my swing. I wish it would have happened earlier but I used to be a catcher and stuff but I learned a lot about that with how pitchers are going to attack me and I’m just slowly learning along and I guess I’m a little slow learner but it’s coming good so far and we’ll just keep learning.”

He can’t wait for Wednesday.

“I’m sure I’ll have butterflies,” he said. “I’m excited about it. All the guys have been talking about how Yankee Stadium is awesome. I can’t wait. I can’t wait for the “Luke” chants and hopefully there’s a lot of them.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.