Yanks invite top 2 prospects Volpe, Domínguez to camp
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The Yankees announced Tuesday that they have invited 29 players to 2023 Major League Spring Training, including infielder Anthony Volpe and outfielder Jasson Domínguez, the organization's top two prospects according to MLB Pipeline. The number of players currently scheduled to report to Spring Training is 69.
Of the non-roster invitees (NRIs), 13 played in other organizations in 2022 and signed minor league contracts with the Yankees for the 2023 season: OF Willie Calhoun, RHP Tyler Danish, INF Wilmer Difo, RHP Demarcus Evans, RHP Ian Hamilton, OF Michael Hermosillo, OF Billy McKinney, RHP James Norwood, OF Rafael Ortega, LHP Nick Ramirez, LHP Lisandro Santos, LHP Tanner Tully and INF Jamie Westbrook.
Seven NRIs − INF Jesús Bastidas, INF/OF Jake Bauers, RHP Matt Bowman, INF Andrés Chaparro, C Rodolfo Durán, C Carlos Narvaez and RHP Ryan Weber -- re-signed with the Yankees for 2023 after playing for the organization in 2022. In addition to Volpe and Domínguez, seven other players in the Yankees organization were also extended invitations to big league camp: RHP Sean Boyle, C Josh Breaux, OF Elijah Dunham, C Anthony Seigler, LHP D.J. Snelten, RHP Mitch Spence and C Austin Wells.
The 29 NRIs consist of 12 pitchers (four left-handers, eight right-handers), five catchers, six outfielders, five infielders and one infielder/outfielder. Fifteen of these players have accrued Major League service time: Difo (4 years, 154 days), Bowman (4 years, 21 days), Calhoun (3 years, 66 days), Weber (3 years, 23 days), Ortega (2 years, 145 days), McKinney (2 years, 142 days), Bauers (2 years, 100 days), Hermosillo (2 years, 64 days), Norwood, (1 year, 169 days), Ramirez (1 year, 77 days), Danish (1 year, 37 days), Evans (166 days), Hamilton (126 days), Tully (15 days), Snelten (10 days).
Domínguez, who turned 20 on Tuesday, has batted .266 (175-for-657) with 123R, 32 doubles, 8 triples, 21HR, 78RBI, 99BB and 46SB in 176 games over two minor league seasons (2021-22). In his first full season in 2022, he combined to hit .273 (123-for-451) with 92R, 23 doubles, 7 triples, 16HR, 59RBI, 72BB and 37SB in 120 games with Single-A Tampa, High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. He led all Yankees minor leaguers in runs scored, ranked second in hits and total bases (208), tied for second in triples, third in walks, tied for third in extra-base hits (46), tied for fourth in stolen bases and fifth in doubles. The switch hitter participated in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Los Angeles, starting in centerfield and hitting a two-run homer. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect and the No. 67 overall prospect in baseball, as well as being named the No. 47 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. Additionally, he was named an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com, a Florida State League Postseason All-Star and the Florida State League’s “Top MLB Prospect.” Domínguez also played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of the season and was named an AFL Fall Star. The Esperanza, D.R., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2019.
Volpe, 21, has spent three minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2019, ‘21-22), hitting .262 (274-for-1044) with 218R, 77 doubles, 13 triples, 50HR, 162RBI, 166BB and 89SB in 275 games. In 132 combined games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this past season, he hit .249 (127-for-511) with 86R, 35 doubles, 5 triples, 21HR, 65RBI, 65BB and 50SB. The right-handed hitter led Yankees farmhands in hits, doubles, XBH (61), total bases (235) and stolen bases, while ranking second in runs scored and homers, tied for second in RBI, tied for fourth in triples and fifth in walks. Volpe was the only player in the minors to record at least 20HR and 50SB, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Andruw Jones in 1995. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees organization and No. 14 prospect in baseball. Additionally, the publication labeled him as the “Best Hitter for Average” and “Best Strike-Zone Discipline” in the Yankees system. Volpe was also ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball and was named an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com. The Watchung, N.J., native was selected by the Yankees in the first round (30th overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft.
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In addition, the Yankees signed RHP Art Warren to a two-year minor league contract for 2023-24 with an invitation to 2024 Spring Training. Warren underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on September 21, 2022.