Yankees announce non-roster invitees to 2022 Spring Training
The New York Yankees announced today that they have invited 14 players to 2022 Major League spring training. The number of players currently scheduled to report to spring training is 53.
Of the non-roster invitees (NRIs), nine played in other organizations in 2021 and signed minor league contracts with the Yankees for the 2022 season: LHP Manny Bañuelos, RHP Jimmy Cordero, C Rodolfo Durán, C David Freitas, OF Ender Inciarte, RHP Vinny Nittoli, INF José Peraza, OF Blake Perkins and RHP Ryan Weber.
Three NRIs — OF Michael Beltre, C Rob Brantly and C Max McDowell — re-signed with the Yankees for 2022 after playing for the organization in 2021. RHP Reggie McClain, who remained under contract going into this year, was also extended an invitation to big league camp along with RHP Matt Bowman, who signed a two-year minor league deal with the Yankees in December 2020 after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow in September 2020.
The 14 NRIs consist of six pitchers (one left-hander, five right-handers), four catchers, three outfielders and one infielder. Ten of these players have accrued Major League service time: Inciarte (7 years, 105 days), Peraza (5 years, 121 days), Bowman (4 years, 21 days), Weber (2 years, 153 days), Cordero (2 years, 136 days), Brantly (2 years, 54 days), Bañuelos (1 year, 146 days), Freitas (1 year, 26 days), McClain (1 year, 6 days) and Nittoli (6 days).
---
Bañuelos, who turns 31 today, has made 23 Major League appearances (14 starts) over parts of two Major League seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2015) and Chicago White Sox (2019). Over 11 minor league seasons (2008-12, ’14-19), the left-handed pitcher has gone 41-44 with a 3.63 ERA (805.1IP, 764H, 382R/325ER, 351BB, 794K, 58HR) in 218 games (158 starts). He has spent the last two seasons in the Mexican and Chinese Professional Baseball League. In 2021, he pitched for the Fubon Guardians of the CPBL and Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League, finishing 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA (59.0IP, 53H, 23R/18ER, 21BB, 75K, 4HR) in 12 combined games (11 starts). He also pitched for Team México in the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2021. Bañuelos signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 23, 2021. He was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on March 30, 2008. The Gomez Palacio, México, native spent seven years in the Yankees minor league system before being traded to Atlanta in exchange for RHP David Carpenter and LHP Chasen Shreve on January 1, 2015.
Beltre, 26, owns a minor league career .257 (513-for-1,993) batting average with 312R, 84 doubles, 34 triples, 33HR, 214RBI, 276BB and 108SB in 596 games over eight minor league seasons in the Cincinnati Reds organization (2013-19) and Yankees organization (2021). The switch-hitting outfielder spent the 2021 season with Double-A Somerset, hitting .256 (102-for-398) with 72R, 21 doubles, 8 triples, 16HR, 54RBI, 50BB and 37SB in 109 games. Beltre was named a MiLB.com Organization All-Star and Double-A Northeast Postseason All-Star after leading the league in triples and stolen bases and tying for first in runs scored. He also ranked among Yankees minor leaguers in stolen bases (second), extra-base hits (fourth, 45) total bases (tied for fourth, 187) and hits (fifth). Beltre was re-signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract on November 4, 2021. The Santo Domingo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent on February 7, 2013.
Bowman, 30, has made 183 career Major League relief appearances over parts of four seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2016-18) and Cincinnati Reds (2019), going 7-13 with two saves and a 4.02 ERA (181.1IP, 167H, 91R/81ER, 62BB, 149K, 14HR). The right-hander missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow on September 16, 2020. Bowman was signed by the Yankees to a two-year minor league contract on December 14, 2020. The Chevy Chase, Md., native was originally selected by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Princeton University.
Brantly, 32, has batted .224 (92-for-411) with 32R, 20 doubles, 7HR, 37RBI and 33BB in 134 games over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2012-13), Chicago White Sox (2015, ’17), Philadelphia Phillies (2019), San Francisco Giants (2020) and Yankees (2021). The left-handed batter appeared in six games for the Yankees in 2021 over two stints with the Yankees (7/16-26, 8/5-16), batting .150 (3-for-20) with 1 double. Brantly was also on the Yankees’ 2021 AL Wild Card Game roster, making the postseason for the first time in his career. Brantly spent the majority of the 2021 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .289 (66-for-228) with 35R, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 9HR, 43RBI and 20BB in 68 games. Following the season, Brantly re-signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 1, 2021. He had been acquired by the Yankees from the Giants in exchange for cash considerations on August 26, 2020. The San Diego, Calif., native was originally selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California, Riverside.
Cordero, 30, has gone 3-5 with a 4.55 ERA (83.0IP, 82H, 46R/42ER, 32BB, 65K, 8HR) in 83 Major League relief appearances over parts of three seasons with the Washington Nationals (2018), Toronto Blue Jays (2019) and Chicago White Sox (2019-20). The right-hander missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow on March 18, 2021. Cordero was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 15, 2021. The San Cristóbal, D.R., native was originally signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent on January 6, 2012.
Durán, 24, spent six minor league seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization (2015-19, ‘21), batting .244 (243-for-995) with 122R, 49 doubles, 7 triples, 33HR, 112RBI and 51BB in 307 games. In 2021, he combined to hit .202 (26-for-129) with 13R, 8 doubles, 6HR, 13RBI and 6BB in 35 games with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The right-handed batter was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 15, 2021. The Santo Domingo, D.R., native was originally signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on November 5, 2014.
Freitas, 32, has hit .200 (25-for-125) with 13R, 8 doubles, 1HR, 8RBI and 12BB in 59 games over parts of three Major League seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2017), Seattle Mariners (2018-19) and Milwaukee Brewers (2019). The right-handed batter began the 2021 season in the Korean Baseball Organization, hitting .259 (36-for-139) with 13R, 10 doubles, 2HR, 14RBI and 7BB in 43 games with the Kiwoom Heroes. Freitas spent the second half of last year in the Tampa Bays Rays organization, combining to bat .212 (14-for-66) with 15R, 1 double, 3HR, 8RBI and 13BB in 20 games with the FCL Rays and Triple-A Durham. He was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 14, 2021. The Wilton, Calif., native was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 15th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
Inciarte, 31, owns a career .280 (874-for-3,117) batting average with 446R, 138 doubles, 28 triples, 42HR, 263RBI, 239BB and 118SB in 857 games over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-15) and Atlanta Braves (2016-21). The 2017 NL All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner (2016-18 in CF) has appeared defensively at all three outfield positions, playing 675 games in center field, 98 games in left field and 78 games in right field. In 2021, the left-handed batter hit .215 (17-for-79) with 11R, 2 doubles, 2HR, 10RBI and 7BB in 52 games with the Braves before being designated for assignment on July 24, 2021. On August 5, 2021, he signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds where he hit .288 (17-for-59) with 7R, 3 doubles, 7RBI and 6BB in 15 games with Triple-A Louisville before being released on August 28, 2021. Inciarte was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 11, 2011. The Maracaibo, Venezuela, native was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent on May 25, 2008.
McClain, 29, has made 19 Major League appearances (two starts) over parts of two seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2019) and Philadelphia Phillies (2020), going 1-1 with a 5.81 ERA (26.1IP, 31H, 20R/17ER, 16BB, 13K, 3HR). The right-handed pitcher spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 5-2 with a 1.79 ERA (55.1IP, 37H, 12R/11ER, 26BB, 57K, 1HR) in 36 games (one start). In 129 career minor league appearances (61 starts), he has gone 29-29 with a 4.05 ERA (462.2IP, 450H, 233R/208ER, 116BB, 419K, 41HR). The Duluth, Ga., native was selected by the Yankees from Philadelphia in the second round of the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He was originally selected by Seattle in the 13th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Missouri.
McDowell, 28, has batted .230 (308-for-1,337) with 181R, 69 doubles, 3 triples, 15HR, 125RBI, 159BB and 40SB in 421 games over six minor league seasons (2015-19, ‘21). The right-handed batter split the 2021 season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset, combining to hit .217 (31-for-143) with 31R, 8 doubles, 1HR, 12RBI and 24BB in 50 games. McDowell was re-signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract on October 21, 2021. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Connecticut.
Nittoli, 31, made his Major League debut in 2021, tossing an inning of relief in his only appearance with the Seattle Mariners (1.0IP, 1H, 2ER, 2BB, 1K, 1HR). The right-hander spent the majority of last season in the minors, combining to go 3-4 with a 5.05 ERA (41.0IP, 39H, 24R/23ER, 10BB, 51K, 8HR) in 30 games (six starts) with Seattle’s Triple-A Tacoma and Minnesota’s Triple-A St. Paul. In 123 appearances (10 starts) over five minor league seasons (2014-16, ‘19, ’21), has gone 12-17 with 10 saves and a 4.61 ERA (199.0IP, 184H, 124R/102ER, 61BB, 210K, 26HR). He was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 10, 2021. The Tempe, Ariz., native was originally selected by Seattle in the 25th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Xavier University (Ohio).
Peraza, 27, has batted .266 (534-for-2,011) with 234R, 82 doubles, 14 triples, 35HR, 182RBI, 89BB and 79SB in 618 games over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015), Cincinnati Reds (2016-19), Boston Red Sox (2020) and New York Mets (2021). The Barinas, Venezuela, native has appeared defensively at second base (236G/188GS), shortstop (285G/252GS), third base (15G/7GS), left field (47G/25GS), center field (21G/15GS), right field (1G) and has pitched three times. During the 2021 season, Peraza hit .204 (29-for-142) with 21R, 7 doubles, 6HR, 20RBI and 9BB in 64 games with the Mets. He missed 54 team games on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right middle finger. Peraza signed with the Yankees as a minor league free agent on November 23, 2021. The right-handed batter was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2010.
Perkins, 25, has hit .232 (464-for-2,004) with 334R, 80 doubles, 15 triples, 28HR, 181RBI, 308BB and 105SB in 564 games over parts of six minor league seasons (2015-19, ’21). The switch-hitter spent the 2021 season with Kansas City’s Double-A Northwest Arkansas, batting .202 (48-for-238) with 33R, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 7HR, 30RBI, 40BB and 9SB in 72 games. He was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on December 13, 2021. The Litchfield Park, Ariz., native was originally selected by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
Weber, 31, has gone 4-12 with a 5.28 ERA (167.0IP, 186H, 104R/98ER, 39BB, 107K, 28HR) in 63 games (16 starts) over seven Major League seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2015-16), Seattle Mariners (2017, ‘21), Tampa Bay Rays (2018), Boston Red Sox (2019-21) and Milwaukee Brewers (2021). The right-handed pitcher combined to make four relief appearances with the Red Sox, Brewers and Mariners in 2021, posting a 12.10 ERA (9.2IP, 15H, 13ER, 4BB, 8K, 5HR). Weber also made 19 minor league appearances (18 starts) last season, going 6-5 with a 4.18 ERA (103.1IP, 102H, 54R/48ER, 13BB, 102K, 15HR) with Triple-A Worcester, Triple-A Nashville and Triple-A Tacoma. He was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on November 30, 2021. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native was originally selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 22nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Petersburg College.