The New York Yankees originally invited 25 non-roster
players to their spring training camp this offseason with competition being the
theme of the spring down at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Do any of these 25
players have a shot at being the next Johnny Barbato and making the big league
club out of spring training? Let’s analyze.
First you have to think about the potential roster spots
that are available and up for grabs this spring. The first position that comes
to mind is the Yankees bullpen, maybe two or three slots are up for grabs,
while the Yankees bench also seems wide open at this point for one or two
slots.
You can immediately cross of names like Chance Adams, James
Kaprielian, Jordan Montgomery, Nick Rumbelow, Justus Sheffield, Gleyber Torres
and Clint Frazier for a plethora of reasons. Innings in Adams case, innings and
injury concerns in Kaprielian’s case, Tommy John surgery in Rumbelow’s case,
inexperience in Torres and Frazier’s case, etc. leaving 18 players vying for no
more than five possible slots on the Yankees team, although that number could
be as low as two spots. Who sticks out as a potential hopeful for making the
team?
Ruben Tejada may make the team as a utility infielder thus
pushing Ronald Torreyes back to the minor leagues or off the team entirely. The
former New York Mets second baseman, still somehow just 27-years old, can play
adequate defense at second base, third base and shortstop while potentially
carrying a bit of a heavier stick than Torreyes and other spring hopefuls
including Pete Kozma and Donovan Solano. Obviously he did not show that heavy
stick in his small sample size last season with the St. Louis Cardinals and the
San Francisco Giants but he has been a 2.0 WAR player twice during his career
with the New York Mets showing that the talent is there. He just has to put in
the work.
I have to admit that I shook my head a bit when I saw that
the New York Yankees sent relief pitcher J.P. Feyereisen to the Arizona Fall
League. Not because he isn’t talented or was undeserving but I guess I let my
own ignorance get in the way. Once I actually sat down and did the research on
the third piece that came back from the Cleveland Indians in the Andrew Miller
trade I saw that Feyereisen actually had a pretty great season in Double-A this
season. Feyereisen finished Double-A, presumably anyway, with a 1.70 ERA and a
1.10 WHIP with 78 strikeouts in 58.1 innings of work. Feyereisen was equally as
strong in the Arizona Fall League posting a 2.57 ERA and could be at the head
of the long line of pitchers looking to fill in the middle relief role for the
Yankees this spring. Feyereisen, on second review, is probably my leading
candidate for the job assuming he has a strong and healthy spring. Not that my
opinion or vote counts for anything, but still. He has it.
And finally ladies and gentleman it’s time for my weekly
plug of left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Because why not? I am
going to continue to push him down everyone’s throats until he is in the Major
Leagues because he is too talented and too close not to reach The Show in 2017,
in my opinion of course. There’s nothing saying that Montgomery could not sneak
in and steal one of the two Yankees starting rotation spots that could be up
for grabs this spring and I’m definitely not going to be the one counting him out.
Montgomery, just 24-years old, split the 2016 season between Double-A and
Triple-A and seemingly has little to nothing left to prove in the minor leagues
at this point. Montgomery finished the season with a 14-5 record and a 2.13 ERA
and 1.20 WHIP in 139.1 innings of work while an uptick in velocity resulted in
134 total strikeouts across both leagues. Montgomery’s delivery is fluid and
his command is almost pinpoint so when you think about this uptick in velocity
you stop thinking about his ceiling being that of a middle-of-the-rotation type
starter and you start thinking how much more he can be going forward.
You have to remember that all these men got their invites
for a reason. They are young, ready and able to do the job. They just have to
go out and do it and if they do they may find themselves squaring off with the
Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day 2017 in some capacity. Good luck to all three
men.
I always remember how quietly Andy Pettitte came up and how expectations were fairly low. He obviously out-performed those expectations. I think Jordan Montgomery has the same potential. He may never be the pitcher that Andy was, but I think he can make his mark in the Bronx.
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