Yankees widen Spring Training battle with invitation to 17 outsiders

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees have filled out their spring training roster with a group that includes familiar farmhands, fading MLB veterans and a handful of wild cards. The club announced 27 non-roster invitees on Thursday, bringing the total number of players expected to report to George M. Steinbrenner Field to 67.

Of those 27 names, 17 were outsiders — not part of the Yankees organization last season. They arrived on minor league deals this winter, each one hoping that a strong showing in Florida earns a ticket to the Bronx.

The other 10 invitees are homegrown prospects and internal arms already in the system. Together, they form a group that reveals how the front office is thinking about depth, development and opportunity heading into 2026.

Prospects who headline the group

George Lombard Jr. is the biggest name on the list. The 20-year-old shortstop is the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect and ranked No. 32 overall in MLB Pipeline’s rankings. He impressed in his first big league camp a year ago and is back for a second look.

Lombard played 132 games between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2025. He batted .235/.367/.381 with nine home runs, 32 doubles, 87 walks and 35 stolen bases. The bat is still a work in progress, but the glove and the athleticism are undeniable.

“George is still in his development mode,” general manager Brian Cashman said in December. “He’s come a long way; he’s exciting, he’s got a lot of talent. The glove’s ahead of the bat. … He could play defense in the big leagues right now, but he’s still developing on the hitting side.”

Right-hander Carlos Lagrange, ranked as the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect, is another name to watch. The hard-throwing reliever sits at 103 mph with his fastball and could be a midseason bullpen option if he puts it together this spring.

Then there is Ben Hess, the club’s No. 6 prospect. The right-hander out of Alabama is getting his first taste of MLB camp. Hess posted a 2.70 ERA in seven Double-A starts after a midseason promotion last year, striking out 45 in 36 2/3 innings. He has the pitch mix of a starter and the build of a reliever, which gives the Yankees flexibility in how they deploy him.

Other ranked prospects in the group include right-hander Brendan Beck (No. 11), who led Yankees minor leaguers in wins and WHIP (1.06) last season, and left-hander Kyle Carr (No. 13), who was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.64 ERA across 25 starts at High-A and Double-A.

The 17 outsiders and what they bring

The bulk of the non-roster group is made up of players who signed minor league contracts with the Yankees this winter. These are the 17 outsiders, and they range from well-traveled MLB veterans to under-the-radar arms looking for a fresh start.

Paul DeJong is the most experienced of the bunch with more than eight years of MLB service time. The former Cardinals shortstop has 146 career home runs across nine big league seasons. He has bounced around in recent years and is trying to find a home.

Seth Brown, 33, spent seven seasons with the Athletics and brings 74 career MLB home runs. He can play first base, left field and right field. He hit .291/.381/.544 in 26 games at Triple-A Reno after being released by Oakland midseason in 2025, showing he still has pop in his bat.

Marco Luciano is the most intriguing reclamation project. Once one of the top prospects in all of baseball with the Giants, the 23-year-old infielder and outfielder was designated for assignment by Baltimore in January and claimed off waivers by the Yankees on Jan. 22. He has 92 days of MLB service time and enough raw talent to make the gamble worthwhile.

Zack Short brings 2 years and 70 days of big league service. Jonathan Ornelas has 111 days. Catcher Payton Henry has 66 days of MLB experience. Dylan Coleman pitched in 97 MLB games across four seasons with the Royals and Astros, posting a 3.84 ERA. These are players who know what it takes to get to the big leagues, even if they have not been able to stick.

The rest of the outsiders are minor league arms and catchers: Alexander Cornielle, who led Brewers farmhands in strikeouts last season; Yovanny Cruz; Drake Fellows; Bradley Hanner; Adam Kloffenstein, who has one day of MLB service; Travis MacGregor; Ernesto Martinez Jr.; catcher Miguel Palma; catcher Ali Sanchez, who has 1 year and 57 days of service time; and outfielder Kenedy Corona, who made his MLB debut with the Astros in 2025.

Internal arms rounding out the list

Nine players already in the organization received invitations alongside the outsiders. Michael Arias, 24, re-signed with the Yankees after posting a 2.73 ERA across four levels of the minor leagues in 2025. Harrison Cohen, a New Hyde Park, N.Y., native, led Yankees farmhands in appearances last season and posted a 1.76 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A.

Carson Coleman, 27, had a 1.59 ERA in 17 appearances across four minor league levels. Duke Ellis, an outfielder who has become a regular spring training invitee, returns again. And Abrahan Gutierrez, a catcher selected from the Athletics in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft, rounds out the catching depth.

What this means for the 40-man roster

None of these 27 players are on the 40-man roster. That distinction belongs to players like Spencer Jones, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect who belted 35 home runs in the minors last season, and right-hander Elmer Rodriguez (No. 3), who was added to the 40-man in November. Both will also be in camp.

So will recent waiver claims like Osvaldo Bido and outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez. And so will Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and the rest of the big league core, at least until some depart for the World Baseball Classic.

Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 11. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 16. The Yankees open their Grapefruit League schedule on Feb. 20 against the Orioles in Sarasota.

For the 17 outsiders in particular, those exhibition games represent something bigger than spring stats. It is a chance to prove they belong in an organization that tied for the American League lead with 94 wins last season. Most of them will end up back in the minors. A few might surprise. That is the entire point of opening the doors to 67 players.

The Yankees are not just building a roster. They are building options. And in a sport where depth wins championships, no invitation is wasted.

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