Yankees make first roster cut, send 8, including top prospect arm, to minors

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The Yankees made their first round of cuts to their spring training roster on Sunday, following a 7-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. All four players sent down were right-handed pitchers.

Luis Gil and Yoendrys Gomez were optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Both pitchers will likely see regular playing time there throughout the minor league season. Top pitching prospect Chase Hampton and Art Warren were also sent back to the minor league camp.

Yankees trim Luis Gill from MLB roster

Following Tommy John surgery nearly two years ago, Yankees pitcher Luis Gil has been throwing bullpen sessions under the watchful eye of team personnel. These sessions revealed a familiar picture, mirroring observations made in 2022 and 2023.

The good news: Gil’s fastball velocity remains impressive, a positive sign for his recovery. However, there’s still work to be done. Gil continues to battle with pitch control, struggling to consistently locate his pitches in the desired zones.

While regaining velocity is crucial post-surgery, mastering control will be equally important for Gil’s success upon his return to the mound.

Earlier in spring training, Gil had actually gotten the start in the Yankees’ very first Grapefruit League game on February 24th. He pitched two innings against the Tigers in Lakeland, Florida, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks, but also striking out three batters in the 22-10 victory.

Gil stated that he feels “really healthy” and emphasized that he has always worked on commanding the strike zone, which remains a continuous focus for him. He added that whenever he gets the chance, that’s what he wants to concentrate on.

Despite flashes of potential, control issues have hampered his progress. In his limited opportunities (seven major league appearances – six in 2022, one in 2023), Gil has compiled a respectable 3.78 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched. However, a concerning 21 walks highlight the need for improved command.

Yankees top prospect arm Chase Hampton back to minors

Top prospect Chase Hampton also received a minor league assignment. He impressed in his lone spring outing, tossing a scoreless inning with a strikeout despite allowing a hit and a walk. Hampton is projected to begin the season where he finished 2023 – at Double-A. Last year, he showcased his potential with a strong start, recording a 2.69 ERA over nine starts with Hudson Valley before transitioning to Somerset, where his ERA rose to 4.37 across 11 starts.

Art Warren and Yoendrys Gomez, the other two pitchers reassigned, will likely see regular playing time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre throughout the minor league season.

Gomez, rated as the Yankees’ 23rd prospect by MLB Pipeline, surrendered two runs in two-thirds of an inning during his lone Grapefruit League appearance. The 24-year-old from Venezuela received a call-up from Double-A last September and impressed by delivering two scoreless innings of relief in his inaugural (and only) MLB game.

Yankees latest MLB roster

Following these cuts, the Yankees’ roster now stands at 62 players, comprising 34 position players and 28 pitchers, including nine left-handers.

Below is the updated roster for the New York Yankees:

PITCHERS

RIGHT-HANDERS (19)

• Clayton Beeter
• Nick Burdi (non-roster)
• Gerrit Cole
• Yerry De Los Santos (non-roster)
• Joey Gerber (non-roster)
• Ian Hamilton
• Clay Holmes
• Tommy Kahnle
• Jonathan Loaisiga
• Ron Marinaccio
• McKinley Moore
• Cody Morris
• Cody Poteet
• Dennis Santana (non-roster)
• Clarke Schmidt
• Marcus Stroman
• Dennis Underwood Jr. (non-roster)
• Will Warren (non-roster)
• Luke Weaver

LEFT-HANDERS (9)

• Clayton Andrews
• Nestor Cortes
• Caleb Ferguson
• Victor Gonzalez
• Anthony Misiewicz (non-roster)
• Oddanier Mosqueda (non-roster)
• Nick Ramirez
• Carlos Rodon
• Tanner Tully (non-roster)

INFIELDERS (12)

• Jeter Downs (non-roster)
• Celeb Durdin (non-roster)
• D.J. LeMahieu
• Oswald Peraza
• Anthony Rizzo
• Jose Rojas (non-roster)
• T.J. Rumfield (non-roster)
• Kevin Smith (non-roster)
• Gleyber Torres
• Josh VanMeter (non-roster)
• Jorbit Vivas (non-roster)
• Anthony Volpe

OUTFIELDERS (11)

• Greg Allen (non-roster)
• Oswaldo Cabrera
• Oscar Gonzalez (non-roster)
• Luis Gonzalez (non-roster)
• Trent Grisham
• Spencer Jones (non-roster)
• Aaron Judge
• Brandon Lockridge (non-roster)
• Everson Pereira
• Juan Soto
• Alex Verdugo

CATCHERS (9)

• Josh Breaux (non-roster)
• J.C. Escarra (non-roster)
• Carlos Narvaez
• Agustin Ramirez
• Ben Rice (non-roster)
• Ben Rortvedt
• Luis Torrens (non-roster)
• Jose Trevino
• Austin Wells

DESIGNATED HITTERS (2)

• Jahmai Jones
• Giancarlo Stanton

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