It has been more than two weeks since the Yankees spring training began in the last week of February. Here are the key takeaways emerging from the team’s camp at Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Florida.
Volpe leading the shortstop race
The Yankees spring training has a very interesting choice to make at shortstop. The team is trying to decide whether to go with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a veteran player, or replace him with in-form prospects Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza.
Volpe came to the Yankees spring training ranked as MLB’s No. 5 overall prospect. Last year, he hit 21 home runs and stole 50 bases in Double-A and Triple-A, making him the first Minor League player to do so since Andruw Jones did it 28 years ago. Even more surprising is the fact that in the first two months of the 2022 season, he only hit .203 and had an OPS of .684.
His excellent form seems to be carried to the Yankees spring training, hitting the ball hard when he makes contact, being willing to steal bases, and making smart plays on defense in the dirt.
Peraza got a chance to play in the Major Leagues in 2022. He played 18 games for New York at the end of the season and then three more times in the American League Championship Series. He is thought to be the more naturally talented fielder. His glovework and throwing ability both get plus grades and hit a career-high 19 home runs at Triple-A.
Last week, captain Aaron Judge talked about Volpe’s performance at the Yankees spring training camp:
“My thing has always been, if you’re the best player, it shouldn’t matter how old you are. You should be in the stands cheering on the New York Yankees.”
Volpe’s glove is getting used to second base, and so is Peraza’s bat. In Monday’s 1-0 loss to the Twins, Peraza, who was playing shortstop, and Volpe, who had moved to second base, made a couple of double plays together.
Dominguez hogs Yankees spring training limelight
Since he signed for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019, Jasson Dominguez has been getting a lot of attention. It reached the Yankees spring training camp for the first time. The switch-hitting outfielder is now 20 years old. He ended his 2022 season at Double-A Somerset on a high note by hitting three home runs in five postseason games.
If the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect’s early play is considered, he is the best for them this spring. After having the offseason to rest up, Dominguez has gotten off to a great start in the Grapefruit League. In his first 10 Yankees spring training games, he is 9-for-21 (.429) with four home runs and three strikeouts. This shows that he has a lot of potential as a power hitter who is getting better.
Weissert is making the most
Greg Weissert, a right-handed pitcher at the Yankees spring training, makes it hard for anyone to hit against him with his delivery and the horizontal movement of his pitches. Weissert’s game against the Cardinals on Wednesday is the perfect example of why this right-handed pitcher would go to the next level. In a 4-0 Yankees spring training loss to the Cardinals, Weissert walked two of the six batters he faced, which let one run score. He also had three strikeouts, which made ace Gerrit Cole, captain Aaron Judge, and manager Aaron Boone to heap praise on him. Each of these three big names in the Yankees’ clubhouse called Weissert “nasty.” Imagine what this reliever’s numbers would look like if he regularly got ahead in the count and pitched while in control.
On Sunday, Weissert’s only strikeout came from a dirty slider that cut back into the strike zone and went over the middle of the plate from the inside corner. Matthew Lugo, the third baseman for the Red Sox, had no chance. He stood there and watched, then turned and walked back to his seat in Boston’s dugout. This could be the pitch that helps Weissert move forward beyond the Yankees spring training.
Vasquez is out to prove himself
Randy Vasquez, the No. 14 prospect for the New York Yankees, is going into his second season on the 40-man roster based on how he is at the Yankees spring training. The last time the right-hander played in a game that mattered, he went eight innings without giving up a hit for Somerset in the game that decided who would win the Eastern League title. His “93-95 mph fastball, 3,000+ rpm curveball, and sweeping slider all get above-average grades.”
Randy Vasquez seems to be a big addition to the Yankees’ rotational depth in a meaningful way in his second 40-man year.
Garcia flashing at Yankees spring training
Right-handed pitcher Deivi Garcia was already making a case to be on the Opening Day roster, and now that he’s shown renewed stuff at the Yankees spring training camp, he could be in line to pitch some real innings out of the bullpen.
Garcia pitched for 3 1/3 innings in Monday’s 1-0 Yankees spring training loss to the Twins at Hammond Stadium. He kept making his case for a spot on the team’s roster. The 23-year-old pitcher only gave up two hits, one of which was a solo home run by Max Kepler. He also gave up one run, and two walks, and struck out two batters.
Garcia has also improved his cutter, and he is throwing his curveball less than he used to, especially to left-handed batters at the Yankees spring training camp.
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