Which Non-Roster Invitees Are Most Likely to Play For Yankees This Season

From top prospects ready for their debut to veterans capable of contributing, here are some NRIs that could wear pinstripes at some point in 2023.

The Yankees unveiled their list of non-roster invitees for spring training on Tuesday, a group of 29 players looking to make an impression at big-league camp beginning later this month.

New York's NRIs feature several top prospects, like shortstop Anthony Volpe, outfielder Jasson Domínguez and catcher Austin Wells. Others have accrued plenty of Major League experience over the years, veterans in search of their next opportunity.

While many of these 29 NRIs won't sniff a big-league clubhouse in 2023, there will be several players from this list that don pinstripes in 2023.

Over the last few seasons, New York has had players like Nestor Cortes, Lucas Luetge, Marwin Gonzalez and more earn spots on the 26-man roster after beginning the year as a non-roster invitee.

That in mind, here are eight assets that have a shot at making an appearance in the Bronx at some point this season, those that will start spring training as NRIs:

Anthony Volpe, SS

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New York's No. 1 prospect gets to go first.

Volpe is one of three players competing to start at shortstop on Opening Day. for New York The odds are stacked against the former first-round pick—who has only played 22 games in Triple-A—but a spectacular spring would certainly help him climb the organization's depth chart. Fellow top prospect Oswald Peraza and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are the other two infielders that will be jockeying for playing time at shortstop this spring.

Regardless of who jogs out to shortstop on March 30 at Yankee Stadium, Volpe is poised to make his MLB debut at some point this year. It's only a matter of time. 

Rafael Ortega and Willie Calhoun, OF

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Since the Yankees didn't make any high-profile additions in the outfield this offseason, all options are on the table entering camp in left field. 

While Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Cabrera are the likeliest choices to start at the position—Estevan Florial is out of minor league options as well—New York could promote one of these veteran outfielders to help out on the bench.

Ortega has six years of MLB experience, playing for five different teams. Over the last two years, he's slashed .265/.344/.409 with 18 home runs in 221 games with the Cubs. The left-handed hitter has better numbers against right-handed pitching, puts the ball in play and can hold it down at all three outfield positions.

Calhoun was once the highest-ranked prospect with the Rangers. While he's been on a steep decline over the last few years, he's also a lefty with pull-side pop and six years of experience in the big leagues.

Billy McKinney and Jake Bauers are also spring training invitees, more left-handed hitters that can play the corner outfield positions, as well as first base. McKinney spent a few years in the Yankees organization after he was acquired in the Aroldis Chapman and Gleyber Torres trade with the Cubs in 2016. Bauers returns after hitting .226/.352/.406 with five home runs over 32 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year.

Ryan Weber, RP

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Weber was an NRI this time last year, beginning the season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was promoted to the 26-man roster, designated for assignment and shipped back to Triple-A on multiple occasions over the summer.

The right-hander is far from flashy on the mound, but he was able to get outs consistently when called upon last year, allowing only one earned run in 10.2 innings (over five relief appearances). He had a 3.86 ERA over 15 appearances (eight starts) with the RailRiders in 2022 as well. 

Nick Ramirez, RP

The Yankees don't have too many left-handed pitchers on their 40-man roster right now. New York traded Luetge to the Braves, Aroldis Chapman left in free agency and Zack Britton is poised to do the same.

Ramirez, 33, is a southpaw that pitched for the Padres in 2022, posting a 5.75 ERA over 13 games out of San Diego's bullpen. He finished five contests, striking out 14 batters in a total of 20.1 frames. The former fourth-round pick had a 2.93 ERA in 53 games with Triple-A Tacoma in 2022. 

Tyler Danish, RP 

Danish pitched in 32 games for the Red Sox last season, allowing 23 earned runs in 40.1 innings (good for a 5.13 ERA). If New York needs an arm at any point, that AL East experience could give Danish the edge. 

Wilmer Difo, UTIL

Difo has a similar skillset to Gonzalez, a veteran that can play all over the diamond. The 30-year-old enters this year with parts of eight seasons under his belt, a switch-hitter that has experience at every position except catcher and first base. 

Before appearing in only three games with the Diamondbacks last year, Difo hit .269/.329/.384 over 116 games on the Pirates in 2021. He spent the six seasons before that in a Nationals uniform.

Austin Wells, C

Volpe isn't the only highly-touted prospect that will have a locker in New York's clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field this spring. 

Wells, a first-round pick in 2020, is ranked as the Yankees' No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The backstop made his Double-A debut last year, hitting .261/.360/.479 in 55 games with Somerset. 

There are several catchers that stand between Wells and a big-league opportunity, but if his bat continues to develop—and the Arizona product excels with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre—he could find his way to the big leagues quicker than expected. 

MORE:

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• Ex-Yankee Joey Gallo Will Have New Role With Twins This Season
• Mariners Sign Former Yankees First-Round Pick to Minor League Deal

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