Yankees Add to Pitching Depth, Sign Minor Leaguer Gray Fenter
The Yankees added to their pitching depth on Wednesday, signing Gray Fenter to a minor league contract, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
Fenter, 27, doesn’t have any major league experience. Rather, he’s only made it to Double-A.
The Orioles spent a seventh-round pick on the righty in 2015, but Fenter required Tommy John surgery after just nine professional games and missed the entire 2016 season. Fenter pitched in Baltimore’s system through the 2021 season, though the Cubs used a Rule 5 draft pick on him in 2020 before returning him to the Orioles.
Fenter did not pitch in 2020 when the minor league season was cancelled.
The 2022 season saw Fenter struggle with the Giants’ Double-A affiliate before joining the Lancaster Barnstormers. Fenter pitched well over nine games with the independent Atlantic League club, recording a 2.95 ERA over nine games. He struck out 32 batters over 21.1 innings while only walking six.
Fenter helped Lancaster win the Atlantic League championship as well.
Now Fenter has parlayed his successful Indy ball stint into an opportunity with the Yankees. However, it will take a lot for him to crack New York’s big league roster.
It’s more likely the longtime minor leaguer spends most of his time with Double-A Somerset and/or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022.
Fenter has pitched in 113 games and tallied 347.2 innings with affiliated minor league teams. Over that span, he’s totaled a 3.93 ERA, 402 strikeouts and 183 walks.
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