A quick look at the players invited to spring training.
Quick reminder: Players on the 40-man roster will not be included in spring training invites. One doesn’t need to ask where Agustin Ramirez is, for example.
RHP Nick Burdi – The 31-year-old Burdi has 19 games of MLB experience with the Pirates and Cubs, pitching to a 9.39 ERA (3.34 FIP). His very small sample size shows an incredible strikeout rate (36%) to go along with an elevated walk (13.3%) and flyball rate (55.3%).
RHP Yerry De Los Santos – Out of the Pirates organization, the 26-year-old pitched to a 3.33 ERA (4.04 FIP) in 22 games in 2023. The Yankees will love his groundball rate (54.9%/0.37 HR/9) though he doesn’t miss many bats. He throws his 95 MPH sinker often, but I bet Matt Blake will ask him to throw it even more.
RHP Joey Gerber – An 8th round pick out of Illinois back in 2018, Gerber has dealt with various injuries and has pitched in only one organized game since making his MLB debut in 2020. The Yankees signed Gerber to a 3-year minor league deal in 2022, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
RHP Chase Hampton – Likely the top pitching prospect in the system, Hampton dazzled in High-A Hudson Valley in 2023 (2.68 ERA (2.86 FIP) with a 40.5% K rate). His numbers predictably dipped for Somerset (4.37 ERA/3.80 FIP/27.4% K). He won’t make the team this spring, but a mid-season debut shouldn’t be ruled out.
RHP Dennis Santana – Santana has made MLB appearances in each of the last six seasons, most recently with the Mets in 2023. His velocity is what allows him to keep cashing paychecks, but the results are far from spectacular (5.17 career ERA/4.26 FIP). I wouldn’t be surprised if people are dazzled by him in spring training, but his best role will be as Triple-A emergency depth.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. – Like Santana, Underwood has appeared in games from 2018-2023. Between 2021-2022, he appeared in 94 games with the Pirates, compiling a 4.36 ERA (3.68 FIP), 45.7% GB, and 21.1% K. He was a second round pick in 2012 and had some prospect pedigree once upon a time.
RHP Art Warren – Like Gerber, Warren was signed to a multi-year minor league deal as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in 39 games for the 2022 Reds, compiling a 6.50 ERA (5.06 FIP) over 36 innings.
RHP Will Warren – The more familiar Warren should make his MLB debut in 2024, perhaps as early as Opening Day (though I wouldn’t count on that). The 8th round pick in 2021 surged down the stretch for Triple-A Scranton to finish with a 3.61 ERA over 99.2 innings with a 25.6% K and 52.7% GB. If there was ever a modern Yankees pitcher profile, that would be it.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz – Misiewicz pitched for three teams in 2023, ending his season with the Yankees. He re-signed this winter to a minor league deal and figures to provide Triple-A depth.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda – Mosqueda (Bob Sheppard would have had a blast pronouncing his name) has yet to appear in an MLB game. A long-time Red Sox prospect, he pitched in 196 games as a member of the organization, compiling a 4.21 ERA over 331.2 IP with a 410/167 K/BB. He will be the left-handed Garrett Whitlock. OK, maybe not.
LHP Tanner Tully – Tully figures to have the same role he had last year. He made 19 starts for Scranton, compiling a 5.64 ERA over 91 innings. Every minor league system needs a veteran to eat some innings. Tully did fulfill his MLB dream when he had a cup of coffee for the 2022 Guardians.
C Josh Breaux – The power prospect has 67 homers and a .461 SLG in 315 minor league games. The rest of his game has not developed, however.
C J.C. Escarra – The 28-year-old hasn’t played an inning of affiliated ball since 2021. The long-time Orioles prospect toiled around in the Independent leagues in 2023, hitting .267/.362/.422 in 93 games.
C Ben Rice – Rice has certainly turned heads with his left-handed power swing that appears to be perfect for Yankee Stadium. His future position is the big question mark. For those who have been around for a while, there could be some Brian Daubach in his profile. Daubach didn’t break into the big leagues until he was 26. From 1999-2002 (ages 27-30), he hit .266/.342/.492 (111 OPS+) as a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
C Luis Torrens – Welcome back! Torrens was a hot catching prospect years ago for the Yankees, until a shoulder injury knocked him out of commission for a year. In 2016, he returned to hit .230/.348/.317 in 40 High-A games. The Yankees felt safe in not protecting him in the Rule 5, only for the Padres to gobble him up. His best MLB season was back in 2021, when he hit .243/.299/.431 (101 wRC+) with 15 home runs for the Seattle Mariners. Depending on further transactions, Torrens could be as high as the #3 catcher on the depth chart, though Ben Rortvedt and Carlos Narvaez both occupy 40-man roster spots.
INF Jeter Downs – A story made for Hollywood (or at least an afterschool special), Downs was one of the prospects sent to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts trade. Once a Top 100 prospect in all of baseball, Downs has not lived up to his potential and figures to only be depth for the 2024 Yankees.
IF Caleb Durbin – Acquired from the Braves for Lucas Luetge, Durbin became a bit of a prospect celebrity early in 2023 (before an injury robbed him of several weeks of playing time). His ability to make contact (6.2% K) and steal bases (36) likely appealed to old men like me who once watched a sport that was once abundant in low strikeout rates and base stealers. Not your prototypical Yankees prospect (there is not going to be power to tap into), Durbin has the ability to make it to MLB in 2024.
IF Jose Rojas – And you thought the Yankees didn’t sign KBO players! Rojas spent 2023 in Korea, where he hit .253/.345/.474 (126 wRC+) over 464 plate appearances. The 30-year-old has 83 games of MLB experience, all with the Dodgers in 2021-2022. He has experience at every position other than catcher, shortstop, and center field (the three most important ones!)
IF T.J. Rumfield – Acquired from the Phillies before the 2022 season, Rumfield experienced a power surge in 2023 for Somerset. Before 2023, he hit four home runs in 84 career games. In 2023, he hit 17 in 82 games while in Somerset. As a left-handed bat, that grabs the attention of Yankees fans.
IF Kevin Smith – If you want playing time, signing with Oakland is not a bad idea. Smith appeared in 96 games for the 2022-2023 Athletics, hitting a meager .182/.218/.314 with seven homers. He plays shortstop and third base.
IF Josh VanMeter – VanMeter has a decent MLB sample size, appearing in 300 games with three different teams between 2019-2022. In those games, he has compiled a .206/.293/.347 line with 19 homers, 79 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Positional versatility is where he shines, though he doesn’t play shortstop or center field.
OF Greg Allen – The Yankees seemingly love Allen. He made MLB appearances for them in 2022 and 2023. The Yankees went as far as sending a prospect to the Red Sox last year to reacquire his services. Allen’s entire game revolves around speed and his ability to play CF, which is why he will continue to sign contracts.
OF Luis Gonzalez – No, not that Luis Gonzalez. This Luis Gonzalez is a 28-year-old lefthanded bat with 107 games of MLB experience (Giants, White Sox). His MLB stat line isn’t so bad for a backup: .255/.328/.363 (99 wRC+) and he can handle all three outfield positions though you likely wouldn’t want to overexpose him in center field.
OF Oscar Gonzalez – Claimed off waivers, earlier this winter, Gonzalez was sent back through waivers by the Yankees only to be unclaimed. Gonzalez looked like a legitimate MLB outfielder in 2022, when he hit .296/.327/.461 in 91 games for the Guardians. He didn’t come close to repeating that in 2023 (49 wRC+ in 54 games!). The Yankees are hoping for some magic.
OF Spencer Jones – Jones is one of the Yankees most highly-regarded prospects – a few sites even have him ranked first overall in the system. A big kid with big potential power, Jones will need to tap into that power while continuing to reduce his strikeout rates. Simply put, there is a lot of volatility in his profile. One can see a future All-Star while others may see someone who won’t be able to put the entire package together. His 2024 season will be fascinating.
OF Brandon Lockridge – If it feels as if Lockridge has been around forever, you aren’t wrong. He has appeared in 422 minor league games for the Yankees, sporting a .263/.334/.420 line with 43 homers and 101 stolen bases. Known for his speed and ability to play center field, I think Lockridge has some Tim Locastro in his profile. If that makes you laugh, remember that Locastro has played in 290 major league games.