CLEARWATER, Fla. — The analytical arm of baseball organizations has fallen in love with the belief that a team’s best hitter should be in the second spot in the lineup.

If the Yankees went down that path, Gary Sanchez would hit behind Brett Gardner because the catcher is the club’s best all-around hitter.

Nevertheless, don’t look for Sanchez in that spot because the favorite from Day 1 has been Aaron Judge. And while Aaron Boone said it’s too early to start reading tea leaves, the first-year manager didn’t hide his affection for Judge following Gardner.

“Just the ability to get on and the power,’’ Boone said when asked what he liked about Judge hitting second before the Yankees’ 6-4 victory over the Phillies at Spectrum Field on Thursday. “I do like having one of our premier hitters in that spot, but it could be [Giancarlo] Stanton, too. But I do like Aaron there.’’

Boone said it was “possible’’ Sanchez, who hit second for the first five games last year before a biceps injury shelved him, could hit second, but if Boone likes the No. 2 hitter to be able to blend on-base percentage with muscle, Judge is the man.

Judge’s .422 on-base percentage last season was third among MLB hitters, trailing only Joey Votto (.454) and Mike Trout (.442). Judge’s 1.049 OPS was second to Trout’s 1.071. Judge finished seven home runs short of Stanton, who led baseball with 59.

In 28 regular-season games hitting second, Judge posted a .465 on-base percentage and a 1.291 OPS. Stanton has hit second in 111 career games with a .392 on-base percentage and a 1.065 OPS.

While Judge’s regular-season numbers were exceptional, he didn’t perform well in October while hitting second. In 13 postseason games, Judge hit .188 (9-for-48) with three homers, seven RBIs, a .316 on-base percentage and a .816 OPS. Judge also whiffed 27 times.

Judge’s 208 strikeouts, which led the majors last season, don’t turn off Boone. And while Judge is 6-foot-8 and 280 pounds, he isn’t an automatic double play if he hits the ball on the ground with a man on first. He banged into 15 a year ago, which tied for the team lead with Starlin Castro but well behind Albert Pujols’ MLB-leading 26.

Perhaps believing he didn’t want to be misunderstood that Judge was definitely going to hit second, Boone offered the following advice.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t read much into these, when we do the lineups we are kind of just thinking through a lens of trying to keep ahead four days out, the moving parts and how many at-bats we want to get a particular guy,’’ Boone said. “I wouldn’t read too much into it yet.’’

Figure the picture will start to become clearer on St. Patrick’s Day, because beginning then there will be 10 exhibition games remaining and it is historically a time when managers use a lineup that will be on an Opening Day card.

Though they are known as the Bronx Bombers, having a 50-homer bat in the No. 2 spot is different for the Yankees.

Derek Jeter often hit second behind Chuck Knoblauch during the late ’90s and early 2000s. Johnny Damon was second to Jeter’s leadoff in 2009, the last time the Yankees won a World Series. Since 1980, Alex Rodriguez, Don Mattingly and Sanchez are the only legitimate power hitters to bat second in the Opening Day lineup.

Yes, it’s early. And Boone is right in saying don’t read too much into it. But Judge hitting second was the call before camp opened and remains the play in the early days of March — if indeed getting on base and hitting homers are the criteria.