Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Yankees Pitchers & Catchers Arrive At Spring Training


Yankees Manager Aaron Boone during his Zoom chat on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of New York Yankees.


Two of the sweetest words to a baseball fan, that partly show the hope of spring as well as a way to get through the long winter, are "pitchers and catchers," that when they arrive at spring training, the hope of the new season is here.

This year, while the country is still in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is a bit more symbolic that this season is right on schedule. There were doubts as recently as a couple of weeks ago that this would be possible, but here are the Bronx Bombers in Tampa. 

They are there just ten days after the Super Bowl won by the hometown Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, across the street from the Yankees complex. 

Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole arrives at camp.  Photo provided by New York Yankees.


The sports calendar, which has been so jumbled in the past year due to the pandemic, has held true when it came to the NFL, which kicked off just after Labor Day and finished the season the first weekend of February, so the hope is that baseball keeps on a similar path as the Covid picture improves across the country.

The Yankees announced their non-roster spring training invitees on Wednesday morning. They have invited 32 players to spring training, and there will be 72 players in total in camp.

20 of the Yankees non-roster invitees were signed (or re-signed) to minor league contracts and there are many familiar faces: RHP Kyle Barraclough, OF Michael Beltre, C Rob Brantly, OF Socrates Brito, OF Jay Bruce, RHOP Jhoulys Chacin, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Nesotr Cortes Jr., C Kellin Deglan, INF Derek Dietrich, RHP Luis Garcia, INF Chris Gittens, RHP Nick Goody, OF Ryan LaMarre, LHP Lucas Luetge, LHP Tyler Lyons, OF Thomas Milone, IF Andrew Velazquez, RHP Adam Warren, and RHP Asher Wojciechowski. (Note - Brantly, Deglan, Gittens, Lyons, Milone, and Warren spent time in the Yankees organization last year and return in 2021 with new minor league deals.)

Twelve players already in the Yankees organization were also extended invitations to Major League camp were: INF Armando Alvarez, OF Trey Amburgey, C Josh Breaux, INF Ezequiel Duran, LHP Trevor Lane, RHP Reggie McClain, C Max McDowell, RHP Glenn Otto, INF Hoy Park, RHP Addison Russ, C Anthony Siegler, and C Austin Wells.

Wells is the Yankees' 2020 first-round draft pick and No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America. There are eight other Top-10 Yankees prospects who will be in camp as members of the team's 40-man roster: RHP Deivi Garcia (No. 2), RHP Clarke Schmidt (No. 3), RHP Luis Gil (No. 4), INF Oswald Peraza (No. 6), RHP Alexander Vizcaino (No. 7), RHP Yoendryz Gomez (No. 8), RHP Luis Medina (No. 9), and OF Estevan Florial (No. 10).

Deivi Garcia and Luis Medina arrive in Tampa Bay. Photo provided by New York Yankees.

The Yankees also announced that RHO Matt Bowman signed a two-year minor league contract for 2021-22 with an invitation to 2022 spring training. Bowman underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on September 16, 2020.

Here are biographies of the Yankees invitees to spring training (provided by the New York Yankees):

Alvarez, 26, has hit .264 (362-for-1,369) with 166R, 85 doubles, 5 triples, 29HR and 193RBI in 374 games over four minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-19). He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Miami, Fla., native was selected by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Eastern Kentucky University.

 

Amburgey, 26, has played in 496 games over five minor league seasons with the Yankees (2015-19), batting .269 (510-for-1,896), 287R, 103 doubles, 17 triples, 59HR and 255RBI. He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but set career highs in runs (73), hits (129), doubles (31) and home runs (22) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2019. The Lake Worth, Fla., native was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Petersburg College.

 

Barraclough, 30, has gone 16-14 with a 3.53 ERA (252.1IP, 99ER) and 319K in 270 relief appearances over five Major League seasons with Miami (2015-18), Washington (2019) and San Francisco (2019). In December 2019, he signed a minor league contract with San Diego for the 2020 season, did not pitch after declaring free agency in July 2020. The Santa Clara, Calif., native was selected by St. Louis in the seventh round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Mary’s College (Calif.).

 

Beltre, 25, owns a minor league career .258 (411-for-1,595) batting average with 240R, 63 doubles, 26 triples, 17HR, 160RBI and 226BB in 487 games over seven minor league seasons in the Cincinnati Reds organization (2013-19). The Santo Domingo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on February 7, 2013. 

 

Brantly, 31, has batted .228 (89-for-391) with 32R, 19 doubles, 7HR, 37RBI and 33BB in 128 games over parts of six Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2012-13), Chicago White Sox (2015, ’17), Philadelphia Phillies (2019) and San Francisco Giants (2020). Last season, Brantly made his second career Opening Day roster (also 2013 with Miami) and appeared in one game for the Giants before being designated for assignment on July 28 and outrighted to San Francisco’s Alternate Site on August 1. The left-handed hitter was acquired by the Yankees from the Giants in exchange for cash considerations on August 26, 2020. He finished the season at the Yankees’ Alternate Site and was a member of the Yankees’ Postseason Player Pool. The San Diego, Calif., native was originally selected by the Tigers in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California, Riverside.

 

Breaux, 23, was a 2019 South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star and has hit .270 (83-for-307) with 34R, 19 doubles, 13HR and 62RBI in 81 games over two minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2018-19). He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Houston, Tex., native was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of McLennan Community College.

 

Brito, 28, has hit .179 (37-for-207) with 23R, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 5HR, 18RBI and 10BB in 99 games over parts of four Major League seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2015-16, ‘18) and Toronto Blue Jays (2019). The Azua, D.R., native spent the majority of the 2020 season at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Alternate Site. He was originally signed by the Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent on April 28, 2010.

 

Bruce, 33, spent the 2020 season with Philadelphia and hit .198 (19-for-96) with 11R, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 6HR and 14RBI in 32 games. Overall, the left-handed hitter has batted .245 (1,451-for-5,930) with 836R, 311 doubles, 32 triples, 318HR and 948RBI in 1,640 games over 13 Major League seasons with Cincinnati (2008-16), New York-NL (2016-17, ‘18), Cleveland (2017), Seattle (2019) and Philadelphia (2019-20). The Beaumont, Tex., native is a three-time NL All-Star (2011-12, ’16) and two-time NL Silver Slugger Award winner (2012-13). He was originally selected by the Reds in the first round (12th overall) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Chacín, 33, owns a career 78-87 record with a 4.04 ERA (1,324.0IP, 595ER) in 257 career games (226 starts) over 12 Major League seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2009-14), Arizona Diamondbacks (2015), Atlanta Braves (2016, ’20), Los Angeles Angels (2016), San Diego Padres (2017), Milwaukee Brewers (2018-19) and Boston Red Sox (2019). The veteran pitcher made two relief appearances for the Braves in 2020, going 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA (5.0IP, 4ER) before being designated for assignment on August 1. The Maracaibo, Venezuela, native was originally signed by the Rockies as a non-drafted free agent on September 27, 2004.

 

Chirinos, 36, has hit .231 (423-for-1,832) with 252R, 100 doubles, 4 triples, 86HR and 269RBI in 602 games over nine Major League seasons with Tampa Bay (2011), Texas (2013-18, ‘20), Houston (2019) and New York-NL (2020). He split the 2020 season between the Rangers and Mets, combining to hit .162 (12-for-74) with 4R, 3 doubles, 1HR and 7RBI in 26 games. He began the season with Texas before being traded to the Mets on August 31. The Punto Fijo, Venezuela, native was originally signed by Chicago-NL as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2000.

 

Cortes Jr., 26, returns to the Yankees after spending the 2020 season with the Seattle Mariners. The left-handed pitcher went 0-1 with a 15.26 ERA (7.2IP, 13ER) in five games (one start) with Seattle before missing the remainder of the season on the injured list with a left elbow impingement. In 2019, the Surgidero de Batabanó, Cuba, native was 5-1 with a 5.67 ERA (66.2IP, 42ER) in 33 games (one start) with the Yankees. He was designated for assignment on November 20, 2019 and traded to the Seattle Mariners on November 25, 2019 for international signing bonus pool money. Over parts of three Major League seasons, Cortes has gone 5-2 with a 6.72 ERA (79.0IP, 59ER) in 42 games (two starts). He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 36th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Deglan, 28, has batted .228 (532-for-2,338) with 289R, 113 doubles, 11 triples, 80HR, 321RBI and 209BB in 674 games over nine minor league seasons. In 2020, the Langley, Canada, native attended spring training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee. He was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Dietrich, 31, has hit .245 (536-for-2,191) with 318R, 107 doubles, 21 triples, 84HR and 255RBI in 746 games over eight Major League seasons with Miami (2013-18), Cincinnati (2019) and Texas (2020). He began the 2020 season in the Reds organization, but was released in July and signed by the Cubs, where he was assigned to the Alternate Site. He was released by Chicago-NL in August and signed to a Major League contract with the Rangers on August 11. In 25 games with Texas, he hit .197 (12-for-61) with 9R, 1 double, 5HR and 8RBI. The Cleveland, Ohio, native was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Institute of Technology.

 

Duran, 21, has hit .249 (131-for-526) with 95R, 25 doubles, 10 triples, 20HR and 68RBI in 134 games over three minor league seasons in the Yankees system (2017-19). He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Juan de la Maguana, D.R., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2017.

 

L. García, 33, has gone 14-17 with six saves and a 4.26 ERA (315.0IP, 149ER) in 326 games (four starts) over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (201­3-18), Los Angeles Angels (2019) and Texas Rangers (2020). The right-handed pitcher went 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA (8.1IP, 7ER) and 11K in 11 appearances (two starts) for the Rangers in 2020 before being designated for assignment on September 15. The Santo Domingo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on January 22, 2004.

 

Gittens, 26, re-signed with the Yankees after batting .264 (370-for-1,399) with 202R, 73 doubles, 2 triples, 71HR and 252RBI in 409 games in his first six minor league seasons with the club. In 2020, the Sherman, Tex., native attended spring training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee after winning the 2019 Eastern League MVP award with Double-A Trenton, hitting .281/.393/.500 (112-for-398) with 58R, 16 doubles, 23HR, 77RBI and 71BB in 115 games in 2019. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 12th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Grayson County College.

 

Goody, 29, returns to the Yankees after being drafted by the club in the sixth round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University. He made his Major League debut with the club in 2015 and has gone 4-8 with a 4.19 ERA (152.2IP, 71ER) and 184K in 158 appearances (one start) over six Major League seasons with the Yankees (2015-16), Cleveland (2017-19) and Texas (2020). In 2020, the Orlando, Fla., native went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA (11.0IP, 11ER) in 17 games (one start) for the Rangers.

 

LaMarre, 32, has hit .236 (53-for-225) with 21R, 11 doubles, 4HR, 21RBI and 15BB in 120 games over parts of five Major League seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2015), Boston Red Sox (2016), Oakland Athletics (2017), Minnesota Twins (2018-19) and Chicago White Sox (2018). In 2020, the Royal Oak, Mich., native attended spring training with the Rays as a non-roster invitee before being released on July 18. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs on July 23 and was at the Cubs’ Alternate Site before being released on September 10. The right-handed batter was originally drafted by the Reds in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Michigan.

 

Lane, 26, is 15-10 with eight saves, a 2.38 ERA (223.1IP, 59ER) and 238K in 134 relief appearances over four minor league seasons (2016-19). He did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but earned Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star honors with Double-A Trenton in 2019. The Redmond, Wash., native was originally selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

 

Luetge, 33, has made 111 relief appearances over parts of four Major League seasons with Seattle (2012-15), going 3-5 with two saves and a 4.35 ERA (89.0IP, 43ER). The left-handed pitcher spent the 2020 season at the Oakland Athletics’ Alternate Site and was a member of the Athletics’ Postseason Player Pool. The Brenham, Tex., native was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 21st round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Rice University.

 

Lyons, 32, made one appearance for the Yankees in 2020 (1.2IP, 3H, 4ER, 1BB, 1HP) in his only stint with the club (9/22-25). The left-hander spent most of the 2020 season at the Yankees’ Alternate Site and was a member of the Yankees Postseason Player Pool. In 2019, he went 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA (8.2IP, 4ER) in 11 regular season relief appearances for the Yankees and was a member of both the 2019 ALDS and ALCS rosters. Over eight Major League seasons with the St. Cardinals (2013-18), Pittsburgh Pirates (2019) and Yankees (2019-20), he owns a 13-12 record with three saves and a 4.30 ERA (282.2IP, 135ER) in 162 games (20 starts). Lyons was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University.

 

McClain, 28, made his first career Opening Day roster and posted a 5.06 ERA (5.1IP, 3ER) in five relief appearances with Philadelphia in 2020. Over parts of two Major League seasons with the Phillies (2019-20), is 1-1 with a 5.81 ERA (26.1IP, 17ER) and 13K in 19 games (two starts). In 93 career minor league appearances (60 starts) from 2016-19, is 24-27 with a 4.35 ERA (407.1IP, 197ER). The Duluth, Ga., native attended the University of Missouri and was selected by the Yankees from Philadelphia in the second round of the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He was originally selected by Seattle in the 13th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.

 

McDowell, 27, was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on June 28, 2020 and spent the season at the team’s Alternate Site as part of the 60-man player pool after being released by Milwaukee on May 31. Over five minor league seasons (2015-19), he has batted .232 (277-for-1,194) with 150R, 61 doubles, 3 triples, 14HR and 113RBI in 371 games. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native attended the University of Connecticut and was originally selected by Milwaukee in the 13th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Milone, 25, has batted .245 (509-for-2,076) with 272R, 77 doubles, 40 triples, 17HR, 160RBI, 188BB and 89SB in 594 games over seven minor league seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization (2013-19). Last season, he attended spring training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee. The Stamford, Conn., native was originally selected by the Rays in the third round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Otto, 24, has gone 7-4 with a 2.85 ERA (91.2IP, 29ER) and 112K in 28 games (20 starts) over three minor league seasons in the Yankees system (2017-19). He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spring, Tex., native was originally selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Rice University.

 

Park, 24, has hit .249 (457-for-1,832) with 287R, 67 doubles, 29 triples, 23HR and 178RBI in 498 games over five minor league seasons (2015-19), appearing in games at shortstop and second base. He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Park was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2014.

 

Russ, 26, is 15-10 with 50 saves, a 2.48 ERA (152.2IP, 42ER) and 200K in 126 relief appearances over three minor league seasons (2017-19). The Amarillo, Tex., native was acquired by the Yankees from Philadelphia in exchange for RHP David Hale on August 21, 2020 and was assigned to the Yankees’ Alternate Site as part of the 60-man player pool. In 2019, he led the Eastern League with 55 appearances and was tied for third with 22 saves en route to being named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. He was selected by the Phillies in the 19th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft.

 

Seigler, 21, has hit .216 (38-for-176) with 21R, 6 doubles, 1HR and 15RBI in 54 games over two minor league seasons with the Yankees (2018-19). He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phoenix, Ariz., native was selected by the Yankees in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, becoming the third catcher to be chosen by the Yankees in the first round of the draft since its inception in 1965 (also David Parrish, 28th overall in 2000 and Thurman Munson, fourth overall in 1968).

 

Velazquez, 26, has batted .156 (15-for-96) with 17R, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3RBI, 12BB and 6SB in 68 games over parts of three Major League seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), Cleveland Indians (2019) and Baltimore Orioles (2020). In 2020, the Bronx, N.Y., native made his first Opening Day roster with the Orioles, hitting .159 (10-for-63) with 11R, 1 double, 1 triple, 3RBI, 10BB and 4SB in 40 games. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Fordham Prep.

 

Warren, 33, owns a 30-24 career record with six saves and a 3.53 ERA (492.1IP, 193ER) in 323 games (21 starts) in his eight-year Major League career with the Yankees (2012-15, ‘16-18), Chicago Cubs (2016), Seattle Mariners (2018) and San Diego Padres (2019). In seven seasons with the Yankees, he compiled a 20-20 record with six saves and a 3.18 ERA (407.0IP, 144ER) in 246 games (20 starts) over two stints with the club. The Birmingham, Ala., native was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs with a player to be named later (Brendan Ryan) on December 8, 2015 for 2B Starlin Castro and was traded back to the Yankees on July 25, 2016, along with INF Gleyber Torres and OFs Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford in exchange for LHP Aroldis Chapman. Warren was also traded from the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international signing bonus pool money on July 30, 2018. The right-handed pitcher has not appeared in a game since undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow on September 4, 2019. According to Elias, only three players have had three separate Major League stints with the Yankees: C Rick Cerone, OF Bob Cerv and OF Luis Polonia.

 

Wells, 21, was selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona and is expected to make his professional debut this season. The Las Vegas, Nev., native enters the 2021 season tabbed by Baseball America as the club’s No. 5 prospect.

 

Wojciechowski, 32, has gone 9-15 with a 5.95 ERA (198.0IP, 131ER) and 191K in 57 games (34 starts) over parts of four Major League seasons with Houston (2015), Cincinnati (2017) and Baltimore (2019-20). He spent the 2020 season with the Orioles, going 1-3 with a 6.81 ERA (37.0IP, 28ER) in 10 games (seven starts). The Pensacola, Fla., native was originally selected by Toronto in Compensation Round A of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft and became the first player from the Citadel to be selected in the first round of Major League Baseball’s draft.


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