Notes:
The Yankees have signed RHP Luis Garcia to a 2-year minor league contract. The contract is for two years because he will miss the entire 2026 campaign due to his second Tommy John procedure.
Garcia was, at one time, a promising young arm for the Astros. In 2021 and 2022, he made 58 appearances (56 starts), going 26-16 with a 3.60 ERA (3.78 FIP) over 312.2 innings with a 25.4% strikeout rate. That is when the injuries started popping up, however, and he has thrown only 34.2 innings since.
Why not take this risk? At worst, he doesn’t bounce back, and you cut him. At best, he becomes a viable arm for the 2027 season.
Scranton (1-0) (Shut down Buffalo, 8-0. Why the heck are they having Opening Day in Buffalo at the end of March? A tad bit cold, no?)
LF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-5, RBI, R, K
You won’t see me complaining about a .200 hitter languishing in the minors.
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 K
Extra-base hit and two strikeouts. That can be the title of his autobiography.
SS Oswaldo Cabrera: 1-for-5, RBI, R, 2 K
Oswaldo is coming off an ankle injury. That said, it is doubtful the Yankees would have carried him even if he was fully healthy. I don’t mind him getting consistent at-bats down here.
2B Max Schuemann: 1-for-2, RBI, R, 3 BB
Schuemann earned 1.0 bWAR over 234 games for the Athletics in 2024 and 2025. His best assets are versatility and speed (21-for-23 stealing bases in his career).
RF Yanquiel Fernandez: 1-for-4, HR (1), RBI, R, BB, K
The Yankees claimed Fernandez, once a Top 100 prospect who appeared in the 2023 Futures Game, off waivers from the Rockies’ organization. They eventually designated him for assignment, but he went unclaimed, allowing the Yankees to keep him. Still only 23, he made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2025, hitting .225/.265/.348 with four home runs in 52 games. The left-handed bat represents a worthwhile gamble to see if he can provide some additional outfield depth.
3B Paul DeJong: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, HBP
The veteran infielder decided not to opt out at the end of Spring Training, taking a role with Scranton instead. Before we think this is some noble gesture, the likely reason is that his agent couldn’t find him an MLB job.
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr.: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 K
The 6’6″ Martinez struggled to find a consistent power groove in 2025, hitting only six home runs in 80 games for Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate. Like with Fernandez, he represents depth.
DH Payton Henry: 0-for-3, R, BB, K
The lone player without a hit today. Henry is one of many catchers vying for the #3 organizational spot (really #4 if you consider Ben Rice the #3 catcher in MLB). He hasn’t appeared in MLB since 2022 and owns a .186/.314/.209 triple slash in 20 games. That is why he hasn’t appeared in MLB since 2022.
C Ali Sanchez: 2-for-4, R
The 29-year-old has 50 games of MLB experience with the Mets, Cardinals, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Red Sox. 50 games split between five clubs. That might be a record. Like with Henry, he has never hit MLB pitching.
RHP Brendan Beck (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
Beck needed 74 pitches to record these 15 outs. This is the third time in his career that he struck out nine batters in a game. He has yet to reach ten. Beck is polished and could make his MLB debut in 2026, though it would require a 40-man roster move.
RHP Angel Chivilli: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Chivilli was acquired from the Rockies for TJ Rumfield. He throws hard (reached 97.7 MPH today) and is on the 40-man roster. Hence, a shuttle role is likely.
RHP Yerry De los Santos: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
De los Santos had his moments with the 2025 Yankees, pitching to a 3.28 ERA in 25 games, covering 35.2 innings. He walks too many hitters and doesn’t miss enough bats, but he does induce a lot of ground balls (55.4% rate last year)
RHP Carson Coleman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Once a top relief prospect with the Yankees, it’s been a long road for the 27-year-old. The hardest part of that road has been dealing with a shoulder injury. He was touching the mid-90s with his 4-seamer and sinker today.
Somerset (0-0)
They start their season next Friday.
Hudson Valley (0-0)
They start their season next Friday.
Tampa (0-0)
They start their season next Friday.