The New York Yankees announced their acquisition of infielder Jordan Groshans from the Miami Marlins through waivers on Tuesday, reinforcing their infield depth for the upcoming season. This move coincided with the designation of left-handed pitcher Matt Krook for assignment in order to accommodate Groshans on the 40-man roster.
Struggles in MLB lead to Krook’s departure as Yankees add Groshans
Groshans, aged 24, previously stood out as a premier prospect within the Toronto Blue Jays organization, having been selected as a first-round pick during the 2018 MLB Draft. Before the commencement of the 2020 season, he garnered recognition as Toronto’s second-best prospect according to assessments from Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
Following a trade to the Marlins in 2022, Groshans made his Major League Baseball debut later that same season. Throughout his 17 appearances, he maintained a batting average of .262, contributing one home run and scoring nine runs. During the entirety of the 2023 season, Groshans showcased his skills with Miami’s Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville, recording a .244 batting average alongside a .669 OPS across 125 games.
Although predominantly a third baseman, Groshans also boasts experience at first base, offering versatility to the Yankees’ infield roster. He is anticipated to exhibit his potential during the team’s spring training camp, with a probable chance of initiating the regular season within the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre squad.
Meanwhile, Matt Krook’s tenure with the Yankees witnessed a shift from Triple-A dominance to an underwhelming performance at the big-league level. Despite a successful campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2023, Krook struggled to translate his form, posting a staggering 24.75 ERA over four appearances in the Yankees’ uniform. His challenges encompassed control issues, yielding 11 earned runs in just four innings pitched, culminating in a 3.50 WHIP.
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