Yankees Spring Training Profiles (Part 3)

By James Vlietstra

February 22, 2026

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The Yankees are opening spring training desperate for a deep run into the playoffs.  They are coming off back to back 94 win seasons and have a streak of 33 consecutive seasons over .500.  However, they have not won a World Series since 2009.  They have only won one in the past 26 years, their worst stretch since the franchise began in 1903.

Because of the World Baseball Classic tournament, the Yankees will have more players in camp than they typically would.  As the players have begun reporting to camp, let's take a look at who is in camp and what we should expect from them this year.  From my best count, there's roughly six dozen players in camp.  So I am going to present them to you alphabetically, 12 at a time.

Bradley Hanner...27 year old RHRP and NRI.  The Yankees signed Hanner to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.  He spent the last three seasons in the Guardians system.  Last year, he threw 49.1 innings in AAA.  The Yankees will have their coaches try to work their magic with him.  He has never been on a 40-man roster, so would have all his options if promoted.  He is yet another depth piece stashed away in AAA.

Brent Headrick...28 year old LHRP and on the 40.  Claimed off waivers last offseason, he is making the league minimum and has one option remaining.  He is under team control for five more years.  Last year, for the Yankees, he pitched 23 innings over 17 appearances.  His WHIP was 1.043 and his K/W rate was 4.29.  With the option, he gives the Yankees flexibility to send him to Scranton, but if he pitches like he did last year, he'll see more high-pressure situations and become a trusted backend reliever.

Payton Henry...28 year old C and NRI.  The Yankees signed him to a minor league free agent contract and invited him to spring training.  Payton last played in the Majors in 2022 and has bounced around four organizations since.  The Yankees traded away much of their catching depth last year, so they needed to bring experienced catching to handle all the pitchers in spring training.  He does have two options left, but I expect him to be in Scranton unless something bad happens.  I can see him being a coach after his playing days are over.

Ben Hess...23 year old RHSP and NRI. The Yankees' first round pick in the 2024 draft, he is listed as the team's number 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline.  He was listed as the number 89 overall prospect by Baseball Prospectus.  Last year, he progressed from Hudson Valley to Somerset the way a top pick is expected to.  Combined, he threw 103.1 innings with a 1.074 WHIP and a 3.02 K/W rate.  He will start the season in Somerset.  For a prospect, once you prove to have mastered this level, you're just a phone call away.  He very easily could be a top 50 prospect ready to compete for an opening day spot in 12 months.

Tim Hill....36 Year old LHRP and on the 40.  The Yankees signed Hill to a two year/ $5.5M contract last offseason.  Last year, he was relied upon heavily, making 70 appearances and producing a WAR of 1.1.  If he can replicate that, the team would be extremely happy.

Spencer Jones...24 year old OF and on the 40.  The Yankees' first round pick in 2022 was a consensus top 100 prospect going into 2024.  In 2025, between Somerset and Scranton, he hit 35 home runs.  During the season, he reappeared on the top 100 lists as other players graduated.  He was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Currently, he's ranked by MLB Pipeline as the number four prospect.  He has very little left to accomplish in the minors, but along with Dominguez, there's no clear path to an everyday job in the Majors.  He has three options remaining so likely he begins in AAA.  If he really excels, perhaps the team is motivated to trade someone like Grisham to make a spot for him?

Aaron Judge...34 year old OF and on the 40.  He still has six years and $240M left on his contract.  Still in the prime of one of the most prolific careers...EVER!!  If you are not enjoying watching him play day in and day out, you need to find some joy in your life.  So long as he has continued health, there's no reason to not expect him to challenge for a Triple Crown and MVP award.  He currently ranks as the 114th all time WAR among position players.  If he duplicates his 2025 season, he will pass 57 players, including 41 Hall Of Famers.  His window will begin to start closing soon.  I would love to see him win multiple World Series, starting with one this year.

Adam Kloffenstein...25 year old RHSP and NRI.  The Yankees signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.  He pitched in one game for the Cardinals in 2024.  Last year, for the Blue Jays farm, he pitched 90.2 innings.  He has two options remaining should they recall him.  He will probably start the year in AAA.

Carlos LaGrange...22 year old RHSP and NRI.  The Yankees signed the IFA phenom in 2022.  He averaged about 32 innings his first three professional seasons.  Something really clicked last year as he started the year in Hudson Valley before advancing to Somerset.  Combined, he threw 120 innings and struck out 168.  His K/W rate was 2.71.  A consensus top 100 prospect entering the season, he is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the second best prospect in the system.  Apparently, he is really opening eyes in camp and was already touching 102 MPH.  Talent like that isn't held down for long.  He is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, but I predict he will already be on the roster and a big contributor to them winning the World Series.

George Lombard Jr....20 year old SS and NRI.  The Yankees first round pick in 2023.  He was a top 100 prospect going into 2025.  He dominated in Hudson Valley the first month of the year, forcing the club to promote him to Somerset as a teenager.  While it was a tough transition, he showed enough to become a top 50 overall prospect.  He's the top prospect in the Yankees system.  He isn't Rule 5 eligible until after the 2027 season.  I expect him to start in AA and depending on how he does, could he be in position to take over as the Opening Day shortstop in 2027?

Marco Luciano...24 year old SS and NRI.  He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees twice this offseason.  The second time, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Scranton.  While with the Giants' organization, he spent five years as a consensus top 40 prospect.  He has played 41 games in the Majors between 2023-24.  Last year, he played 125 games at the Giants AAA team.  He is out of options, but could be a possible replacement for Volpe as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

Travis MacGregor...28 year old RHRP and NRI.  He signed a minor league contract and given an invitation to spring training.  He pitched in AA for both Texas and Milwaukee last year.  Combined he struck out 55 in 51 innings.  He has never been on a 40-man roster so he still has three options, if he is recalled.  Likely, he starts in AA or AAA.