Tampa Yankees Spring Training Wrap-Up

TAMPA — So, Camp Snooze has come to an end, at least for the time being in Florida.

After a challenging spring training filled with injuries, the Yankees wrapped up their time at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday, marking one of the quieter camps they’ve experienced in recent years.

“It’s never boring,” Aaron Boone chuckled.

Well, saying that nothing noteworthy happened might be more accurate, but, in any case, the Yankees managed to complete six weeks without any major injuries or controversies. They still have two exhibition games lined up against the Cubs in Arizona before kicking off the season against the Giants, but they generally departed Florida feeling positive about spring.

“I think it’s been a solid spring, mostly in terms of our health. The players are getting plenty of reps, and the younger guys are working hard for real playing time,” Boone noted. “That’s where our depth comes into play. I feel we can handle some challenges and still come out strong. But we’ll have to see how it unfolds.”

As the season starts, the Yankees will have four players on injured reserve: Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clark Schmidt, and Anthony Volpe. However, they all underwent surgeries well before training camp, and their recoveries are progressing well.

Cole’s return was probably the most thrilling highlight of camp, particularly with top pitching prospect Carlos LaGrange showing impressive skills, indicating the Yankees might have more talent ready to step up than they had anticipated.

Thanks to improved health, the strength of the starting pitcher and batting lineup has been enhanced.

Considering the circumstances, the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are likely favorites to claim the International League title, given the talent that’s being sent there due to limited roster spots, including Jason Dominguez, Spencer Jones, Oswaldo Cabrera, Elmer Rodriguez, and possibly LaGrange.

The Yankees plan to begin the season with a four-man rotation initially, especially since they have several off days during the first couple of weeks. This means Lewis Gil will likely stay out for now, following a strong performance in camp, but there’s no final decision yet on whether he’ll join the roster as a supplemental pitcher or head to the minors until they need a fifth starter.

“I don’t think our pitching depth has been this solid in a long time,” Aaron Judge commented. “When you factor in guys like Rodon, Schmidt, Cole—those returning from injury—we have around 11 to 12 potential starting pitchers. That’s encouraging. Plus, our lineup is tied for the most wins in the AL, so adding those pitchers should yield good results.”

The Yankees sent almost half of their Opening Day lineup to the World Baseball Classic, and fortunately, it seems everyone who participated has returned unscathed; however, it remains unclear if this will have long-term effects during the season.

Despite the camp’s start, the bullpen is still the team’s biggest uncertainty heading into the regular season.

As of Sunday, finalizing the last two spots was still a work in progress. The Yankees might have the option to pull some starters into the bullpen once Rodon, Cole, and others are back, but that’s not something they will fully address until after the initial weeks of the season.

“What I want is for players to truly earn their roles in the bullpen,” Boone expressed. “Regardless of how we set up, there are bound to be a few players lacking experience or facing tough competition. We could take various paths. However, I hope they seize their chances and establish their roles during this time.”