2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected.
Thanks to Spring Breakout, we don’t have to wait to see the most recent top Draft picks under a big spotlight.
This week, all 30 teams will put the best their farm systems have to offer on display and provide an early introduction to just what their scouting departments brought in last July. Of the top 36 picks from last year’s Draft, 34 are on Spring Breakout rosters and should get the chance to show what they can do on a bigger professional stage. Of the 65 players taken through the end of the second round last year, 59 of those will be on hand, 26 of whom have yet to make their professional debut.
It is one of the more exciting aspects of Spring Breakout, which is now in its second year. In last year’s inaugural edition, 54 of the top 66 players taken prior to the third round in 2023 -- and 32 of the top 36 -- were on rosters. The first pick of 26 teams played last year and it’s looking like there should be a repeat in 2025, with 28 of 30 teams sending their first selection from the 2024 Draft to their Spring Breakout games.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
At last year’s Spring Breakout, No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes’ start was the talk of the event, facing off against former top pick Jackson Holliday. This year, Travis Bazzana has the 1-1 banner in Spring Breakout and he’ll get to face a very good Mariners squad and perhaps their 2024 first-rounder, switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje.
In addition to Cijntje being the first switch-pitcher to go to a Spring Breakout game, he’s also one of the many 2024 draftees who have yet to officially play a professional game. He’s one of nine first-round picks who haven’t made their pro debuts yet:
2. Chase Burns, RHP, Reds (No. 1/MLB No. 26)
9. Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Pirates (No. 2/MLB No. 43)
11. Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers (No. 4/MLB No. 52)
12. Braden Montgomery, OF, White Sox (No. 5/MLB No. 54)
15. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mariners (No. 9)
23. Kellon Lindsey, SS, Dodgers (No. 8)
25. Kash Mayfield, LHP, Padres (No. 3)
26. Ben Hess, RHP, Yankees (No. 4)
29. Slade Caldwell, OF, D-backs (No. 3)
Skenes may have been a bit of an outlier as someone who “debuted” in Spring Breakout and then was in the big leagues by May, but there are a number of the top picks above who could be on a fast track and make it to the Major Leagues at some point in 2025. And then there are the college bats like Bazzana (MLB No. 10), Nick Kurtz (No. 38), Jac Caglianone (No. 22), JJ Wetherholt (No. 23) and Christian Moore (No. 67), all of whom got their feet wet in the Minors last summer and could be facing Major League pitching before too long.
Last year, 15 of the first-round picks on Spring Breakout rosters were on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. That number has been replicated on this year’s list. Six of them are currently the No. 1 prospects for their organizations, including Cam Smith (MLB No. 58), who sits atop a different system’s list than the one who drafted him after heading to the Astros from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade. Braden Montgomery is the other 2024 first-rounder going to the showcase who has already changed teams after heading to the White Sox via the Garrett Crochet deal with Boston.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Facebook and @JonathanMayo, and listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.
Spring Breakout: Renegades place 17 alumni on Spring Breakout Rosters
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 6, 2025) – Rosters for the 2025 Spring Breakout games were announced by Major League Baseball this morning, and 17 former Hudson Valley Renegades players were named to Spring Breakout Rosters, including placing 14 alumni the New York Yankees Spring Breakout Roster. The Yankees prospect team
Hitting The Books: Renegades launch 'Rascal's Reading Challenge'
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 7, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce during Read Across America Week the establishment of “Rascal’s Reading Challenge,” a new educational program aimed at encouraging students throughout the Hudson Valley to pick up a
Party On: Renegades Fest Returns to Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, March 29
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (March 4, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are thrilled to announce the return of Renegades Fest to Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This year’s event will be bigger than ever
Shining A Light: Mike Hill, Tyree Hayes and Greg Jones made their mark on the field and off
As part of MLB's The Nine initiative designed to honor and celebrating the historic impact of Black ballplayers, the Hudson Valley Renegades are taking a look back at three notable contributors from throughout the team's 30-year history. The three chosen players come from the first three decades of Renegades baseball,
Break A Leg!: Renegades announce 2025 theme nights and promo schedule featuring original musical
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 24, 2025) –The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, will make history in 2025 as they become the first team in baseball to stage an original musical which will be performed in between innings. The still to be named Renegades Musical
Fields Of Dreams: Youth Field Betterment Program Applications Now Open
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced today that applications for the Youth Field Betterment Program presented by Heritage Financial Credit Union are now open. Applications will be accepted by the Renegades from Feb. 1 through
Making Fetch Happen: Renegades announce all-new Retrievers alternate identity
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 3, 2025) – In honor of National Golden Retriever Day being celebrated today, the Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are excited to announce an all-new alternate identity for the team to begin play in the 2025 season, the Hudson Valley
Super Cooper: Yankees name James Cooper manager of the Renegades
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2025) – The New York Yankees announced their minor league field and support staffs for the 2025 season on Friday. James Cooper will take over as the manager of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Yankees’ High-A affiliate. Cooper becomes the 20th manager in team history,
Welcome!: Renegades announce Tom Denlinger as new General Manager
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 17, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and their ownership group, Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), the club’s owner and operator, announced today that Tom Denlinger will become the eighth General Manager of the Renegades. Denlinger joins the Renegades
Ball Foxes: Heritage Financial Park to host several Marist University baseball games in 2025
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Jan. 10, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and Marist University Athletics are proud to announce today an agreement for Heritage Financial Park to host eight games during the upcoming NCAA Division I baseball season. The first contest to
Top Of The Heap: Former Renegade Stephen Vogt named 2024 AL Manager of the Year
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Nov. 21, 2024) -- Former Hudson Valley Renegades player Stephen Vogt has been announced as the 2024 American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In his first season as a Major League Manager, Vogt led the Cleveland Guardians to a 92-69
How 'Bout Them Apples?: Renegades announce Big Apples alternate identity
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Nov. 15, 2024) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce the Hudson Valley Big Apples, an all-new alternate identity for the team to begin in the 2025 season. The Big Apples is an identity centered on celebrating
Gades Greatness: Counting down top 12 moments of 2024, #3-1
For the final piece of the year, we have finally hit the final three moments in our countdown of the top 12 moments of the 2024 Hudson Valley Renegades season. We've already seen record-breaking performances, unbelievable catches, memorable finishes, and dominant stretches. Without further ado, let's get into the top
Gades Greatness: Counting down top 12 moments of 2024, #6-4
As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. We have already gone through half of the top 12 list, which means we start to hit the home
Renegades hosting Seasonal Staff Job Fair at Heritage Financial Park on February 15
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2025) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and Professional Sports Catering (PSC) have announced that they will be holding a seasonal job fair at Heritage Financial Park on Saturday, February 15 in anticipation of the 2025 season and
Gades Greatness: Counting down top 12 moments of 2024, #9-7
As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. The 2024 season was one of the most-memorable seasons in the 30 years of Renegades baseball, so much so
Gades Greatness: Counting down top 12 moments of 2024, #12-10
As we have hit the final month of the 2024 calendar, the time has come for our annual review of the Top 12 moments from the previous Hudson Valley Renegades season. The 2024 season was one of the most-memorable seasons in the 30 years of Renegades baseball, so much so
All Set: Renegades announce 2025 game times and fireworks shows
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2024) – The Hudson Valley Renegades, the High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced their game start times and fireworks show dates for the 2025 South Atlantic League season today. Following the success of earlier, fan-friendly start times in 2024, the Renegades are
Fall Stars: Martin, Durbin leave their mark on Arizona Fall League
Throughout the fall, former Renegades players have continued playing baseball in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, with Garrett Martin, Antonio Gomez, Jackson Fristoe, Harrison Cohen, Ben Cowles and Caleb Durbin making their names known among some of the top prospects in the sport. The team they played for, the Salt
Solid As A Roc: Riggio ignited crowds in Hudson Valley
Dirtbag. If you were to have 2024 Renegades infielder Roc Riggio describe himself in a word, that would be his choice. Outside of baseball, that might not sound like a compliment, but in baseball it is the ultimate compliment for a player like Riggio. It means you play hard, are
Fast Carr: Kyle Carr navigated ups and downs in first pro season
A version of this article originally ran in the August edition of Renegades Magazine, which can be read in its entirety here. It has been an up-and-down first professional season for Kyle Carr. The Yankees third-round pick in 2023 struggled early in the season to find the form he displayed
Renegades Magazine: Q&A with RHP Trent Sellers
A version of this article originally ran in the August edition of Renegades Magazine, which can be read in its entirety here. This version includes some extra questions not in the original piece. One of the biggest breakout players in the Yankees minor leagues this year was Trent Sellers. In
Reyz of Hope: Eric Reyzelman forged breakout campaign in 2024
A version of this story appeared in the July issue of Renegades Magazine, which can be read here. It has been updated to reflect the end of the season. The baseball journey of Eric Reyzelman has been far from easy. From Tommy John surgery as a teenager to missing nearly
Making Magic: 2024 Renegades season one for the history books
The 2024 Hudson Valley Renegades 30th anniversary season will go down as one of the greatest in the team’s history with record-setting performances, eye-popping plays and a visit from 12 athletes from across the globe. While it would be impossible to capture everything from this past season at once, let’s
Heading West: Flores, Martin highlight Renegades alumni to participate in Arizona Fall League
Wappingers Falls, N.Y. (Sept. 25, 2024) – The New York Yankees and the Arizona Fall League today announced that six former Hudson Valley Renegades players and one coach have been selected to participate in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. The six players include RHP Harrison Cohen (2023-24) INF Ben Cowles