TAMPA — The Yankees have one infield spot left unfilled, but DJ LeMahieu, who was injured late in camp and received a negative X-ray after taking a ball to his leg on Saturday, will have one more open if he doesn’t recover in time. An infield position may become available.
That means players like Kevin Smith and Jamai Jones could be important this season.
Both are part of a backup competition that also includes 40-man roster members Jorvit Vivas and likely Jeter Downs, although Downs has already been reassigned to minor league camp.
Oswaldo Peraza was the most likely candidate to be a backup infielder, but he injured his shoulder and was forced to stop pitching.
Oswaldo Cabrera could be behind shortstop Anthony Volpe, but Cabrera may have to patrol all over the field.
The Yankees need a second flexible infielder who could play shortstop and definitely needs ability at second and third base.
Smith played the ball at shortstop Sunday, but has played solid defense at all three positions and could earn that spot.
“I try not to focus on that. I just go out there every day and try to get better,” he said, making his debut with the Blue Jays in 2021 and playing the past two seasons with the Athletics. said Smith, a non-roster invitee. “Just learning the players, working as hard as I can and trying to improve for this season. I’m just trying to make myself as valuable to the team as possible.”
If the 27-year-old claims the job, the Yankees could field an all-New York shortstop group.
Volpe, a Yankees fan who was born in Manhattan and raised in New Jersey, could be supported by a player from East Greenbush who grew up as a Yankees fan.
“I was a Jeter player, a Yankee player. I pretty much grew up in the Red Sox vs. Yankees era,” Smith said. He hit a triple in Sunday’s 12-6 loss to the Red Sox at JetBlue Park, raising his spring OPS to .666. “So it was great to see those teams. We were only three hours from Boston and two and a half hours from New York. So our whole neighborhood was split right down the middle. ”
If Jones wins the job, the Yankees will be acquiring a player with an impressive pedigree.
His father, Andre, is a linebacker who played at Notre Dame and briefly with the Lions.
His younger brother, TJ, spent four years as a receiver for the Lions and last played in the NFL in three games against the Giants in 2019.
Jones, a Georgia native, was a high school star in both sports, but during his senior year of high school he discussed his career options with his family and decided to quit football.
“I wanted to blaze my own path and be myself,” said Jones, who plays receiver and is listed at 6-foot, 210 pounds. “I felt like I just really pursued what I wanted to do. And baseball just happened to be there and just happened to fill the void that I felt was missing a little bit in soccer.”
He bounced back as a prospect, debuted with the Angels in 2020, played with the Orioles in 2021 and last season with the Dodgers in the minor leagues before signing with the Brewers and appearing in seven major league games in 2023. , is a fast and strong athlete. .
Jones can play the outfield and is comfortable playing second and third base, but he is not a shortstop.
The 26-year-old is having a great spring with an .804 OPS in the Grapefruit League.
“I’m working for a position on the team, so wherever that role is,” Jones said. “I try not to look too far ahead. … I’m just trying to do my best, but when the chips fall, they always fall.”
It’s also possible that no one in the camp will get the job. The Yankees will likely keep an eye on other infielders who fall off opposing rosters.
“We feel like we have some reliable guys here,” GM Brian Cashman said Saturday. “But in any spring, we’re always going to look outside.”
