New York Yankees non-roster invitees part one – position players
By Ed Stein
Catchers
Teams will bring in extra catchers to handle all the pitchers in training camp. Most of them will be gone after two or three weeks but they are in camp. Let’s face it, no one in the organization (or many others) can replace Gary Sanchez.
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The Yankees have two catchers among their top-30 prospects, but neither received an invite to Major League spring training.
Kellin Deglan – The Texas Rangers thought enough of the Western Canadian catcher to select him with a second-round draft pick in 2010. Deglan is a very good defensive catcher, but his lack of offense has allowed him to go no further than AA ball.
Francisco Diaz – He’s been a professional baseball player since 2007. While a decent hitter for average .256, only 97 of his 464 hits have been for extra bases, resulting in a career .323 slugging percentage. He’ll be 29 before the season starts, this may be his last chance to play pro ball in the United States.
Jorge Saenz – Another player that has never advanced past Double-A. Last year at Trenton, he matched his career batting average of .237. Another depth player, if he stays with the Yankees, maybe he goes as high as AA again to start the season.
Ryan Lavarnway – The equipment staff must think he has some chance of making the big club, Lavarnway was assigned jersey number 30. The former Yale Bulldog has played parts of seven seasons in the majors, most of them with Boston during the early part of the decade.
He spent 2018 in the Pirates organization, making it up to Pittsburgh for six games, all in a pinch-hitting role (he went 4-for-6). Lavarnway is most likely battling Kyle Higashioka for the number three job behind Sanchez and Austin Romine.
Next. Who’s on first for the Yankees?. dark
There is maybe one, possibly two spots available and these and these 11 players are in for a fight if they want to be on the New York Yankees opening day roster.