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This past week, the minor leagues took the field for the first time since September 2019. It was a successful week within the Yankees organization, as three of the four affiliated teams finished the week with at least a share of first place in their respective divisions. In addition to team success, many of the Yankees top prospects put together outstanding season debuts. Since all four teams were off yesterday, let’s use the breather to take a look across the Yankees system at some of the top performers from week one of the minor league season.
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Just after the start of the Yankees’ exhibition game against the Tigers on Friday, the team announced a number of moves to cut down their roster. It’s the first time this spring that the Yankees have made a big batch of changes to give fans a better idea of who might make the club on Opening Day.
Reliever Adam Warren was likely the most prominent roster contender demoted to minor league camp. He had been a non-roster invitee and appeared to be healthy after recovering from Tommy John surgery in the past year and a half, but despite throwing three scoreless innings across three games in spring training, the Yankees seemingly did not think that his repertoire was MLB-caliber at this point. Barring a rash of bullpen injuries, he’ll have to work his way back into the team’s good graces at the alternate site in April.
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The 32 non-roster invitees consist of 13 pitchers (four left-handers, nine right-handers), seven catchers, six infielders and six outfielders. Seventeen of these players have accrued Major League service time: Bruce (12 years, 125 days), Chacín (9 years, 87 days), Chirinos (8 years, 103 days), Warren (7 years, 36 days), Dietrich (6 years, 112 days), L. García (5 years, 92 days), Goody (4 years, 105 days), Lyons (4 years, 75 days), Barraclough (4 years, 20 days), Wojciechowski (2 years, 151 days), Brantly (2 years, 31 days), Luetge (2 years, 15 days), Cortes (1 year, 139 days), Brito (1 year, 123 days), Velazquez (1 year, 70 days), LaMarre (1 year, 62 days) and McClain (1 year, 6 days).
Of the Yankees non-roster invitees, 13 are homegrown players. Eleven were originally drafted by the club: Alvarez (2016, 17th round), Amburgey (2015, 13th round), Breaux (2018, second round), Cortes Jr. (2013, 36th round), Gittens (2014, 12th round), Goody (2012, sixth round), Lane