Nine Patriots Named As Yankees Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The New York Yankees have announced their spring training non-roster invitees, which includes nine players with time as Somerset Patriots.
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The New York Yankees have announced their spring training non-roster invitees, which includes nine players with time as Somerset Patriots.
What a season for Spencer Jones🌟 pic.twitter.com/NEBStPhLhZ
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) November 26, 2024
Jones, 23, has spent three minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2022-24), hitting .270/.344/.456 (285-for-1,055) with 165R, 65 doubles, 10 triples, 37HR, 156RBI, 114BB and 80SB in 264 combined games. In 2024, he hit .259 (125-for-482) with 73R, 30 doubles, 6 triples, 17HR, 78RBI, 54BB and 25SB in 122 games with Double-A Somerset. The left-handed batter led qualified Yankees minor leaguers in RBI, extra-base hits (53) and total bases (218), ranked second in hits, tied for second in triples, tied for third in doubles, fourth in runs scored, sixth in home runs and 10th in slugging percentage. He was named to the American League roster for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Texas on July 13, 2024, batting fifth in the starting lineup and playing RF (0-for-1, 1R, 1BB). Following the season, Jones was named an Eastern League Postseason All-Star and was tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 6 prospect in the Yankees organization. He was also labeled by the publication as the “Best Power Hitter,” “Fastest Baserunner,” “Best Defensive Outfielder” and “Best Athlete” among Yankees minor leaguers. The Encinitas, Calif., native was selected by the Yankees in the first round (25th overall) of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University (Tenn.).
Congratulations to Rafael Flores on being selected as the @BaseballAmerica Yankees Minor League Player of the Year.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) September 23, 2024
Flores finished among the @Yankees minor league leaders in HR (2nd), 2B (2nd), XBH (2nd), TB (2nd), H (3rd), BB (4th), RBI (5th), SLG (5th) and R (6th). pic.twitter.com/uasXYousPc
Flores, 24, has hit .272 (226-for-830) with 120R, 47 doubles, 1 triple, 31HR, 115RBI, 115BB and 11SB in 231 combined games over three minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2022-24). The right-handed batter hit .279 (121-for-434) with 67R, 31 doubles, 21HR, 68RBI, 66BB and 8SB in 122 combined games with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2024. Among qualified Yankees farmhands, he ranked second in home runs, doubles, extra-base hits (52) and total bases (215), third in hits, was tied for fourth in walks, fifth in RBI, slugging percentage (.495) and OPS (.874), seventh in runs scored and ninth in batting average. Following the season, Flores was tabbed as the No. 10 prospect in the Yankees organization according to Baseball America and was also labeled by the publication as the Yankees’ 2024 Minor League Player of the Year. The Anaheim, Calif., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 25, 2022.
Chase Hampton used one word to describe what he does best on the mound to @Yankees fans who may not be familiar with him.
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) January 30, 2025
Via @BrendanKutyNJ | @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/B2nClIzYT3
Hampton, 23, has spent two minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2023-24), going 4-4 with a 3.45 ERA (125.1IP, 96H, 57R/48ER, 46BB, 161K, 14HR) in 27 starts. In 2024, he made seven combined starts with the FCL Yankees, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Somerset, going 0-1 with a 2.41 ERA (18.2IP, 11H, 6R/5ER, 9BB, 16K, 1HR). In spring training of 2024, the right-handed pitcher was named a 2023 recipient of the “Kevin Lawn” Award as the Yankees’ minor league “Pitcher of the Year.” Following the season, Hampton was tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect in the Yankees organization and was also labeled by the publication as having the “Best Fastball” and “Best Curveball” among Yankees farmhands. The Kilgore, Tex., native was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Tech University.
Eric Reyzelman brought the energy in his first full minor league season⚡️ pic.twitter.com/hSGZfgUOdh
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) December 21, 2024
Reyzelman, 23, has spent three seasons in the Yankees organization (2022-24), going 2-2 with six saves and a 2.68 ERA (50.1IP, 29H, 16R/15ER, 26BB, 79K, 3HR) in 40 appearances (one start). The right-handed pitcher made 31 combined appearances (one start) with the FCL Yankees, High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2024, going 1-1 with five saves and a 1.16 ERA (38.2IP, 18H, 6R/5ER, 19BB, 63K, 2HR). The San Ramon, Calif., native was selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University.
Cam Schlittler was the @Yankees' minor league leader with 154 strikeouts in 2024🥊🎟 pic.twitter.com/NWungEupSE
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) December 19, 2024
Schlittler, 24, has gone 9-10 with a 3.56 ERA (166.2IP, 147H, 83R/66ER, 76BB, 204K, 14HR) in 39 games (36 starts) over two minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2023-24). The right-handed pitcher made 25 combined appearances (23 starts) with High-A Hudson Valley, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset in 2024, going 8-8 with a 3.36 ERA (120.2IP, 98H, 58R/45ER, 55BB, 154K, 10HR). He led all qualified Yankees farmhands in strikeouts, was tied for third in wins, ranked fifth in opponents’ BA (.218), sixth in innings pitched and tied for sixth in games started. Following the season, Schlittler was named a South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star and was named the league’s “Pitcher of the Year.” The Weymouth, Mass., native was selected by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Northeastern University (Mass.).
Sean Boyle was MASTERFUL👨🍳
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 7, 2022
7️⃣ IP | 1️⃣ ER | 4️⃣ H | 7️⃣ K
The reigning EL Pitcher of the Month now has thrown TEN straight quality starts, the longest streak of any minor league pitcher in over three years😮 pic.twitter.com/hLhTp6V7uv
Boyle, 28, has spent six minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2018-19, ’21-24), going 30-13 with four saves, one shutout and a 3.54 ERA (351.1IP, 306H, 163R/138ER, 82BB, 379K, 43HR) in 106 games (48 starts). The right-handed pitcher combined to go 4-1 with one save and a 3.86 ERA (21.0IP, 18H, 9R/ER, 5BB, 22K, 2HR) in 16 appearances (two starts) with the FCL Yankees, High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2024. The Selden, N.Y., native was signed by the Yankees to a minor league contract on November 3, 2024. He was selected by the Yankees in the 25th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Dallas Baptist University (Tex.).
Leonardo Pestana faced 8 batters and struck out 4 in 2 scoreless IP to preserve the tie going into the bottom of the 9th. pic.twitter.com/MJEOrzDnl7
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 29, 2024
Pestana, 26, has spent six minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2018-19, ’21-24), going 5-13 with three saves and a 5.92 ERA (165.2IP, 148H, 116R/109ER, 95BB, 226K, 20HR) in 71 games (38 starts). In 2024, the right-handed pitcher went 2-0 with two saves and a 2.78 ERA (32.1IP, 20H, 10R/ER, 14BB, 43K, 2HR) in 27 relief appearances with High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. Following the season, he played in four games with the Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan Winter League. The Guatire, Venezuela, native was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees on November 3, 2024. He was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on February 26, 2018.
T.J. GOLD! Congratulations to T.J. Rumfield on being named an @MiLB Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner for his defensive excellence at first base!🏅 pic.twitter.com/Rn8hNdmWFV
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) November 14, 2023
Rumfield, 24, has batted .265/.359/.423 (277-for-1,045) with 162R, 57 doubles, 36HR, 173RBI, 139BB and 16SB in 292 games over four minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2021-24). In 2024, Rumfield combined with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to bat .294 (132-for-449) with 77R, 27 doubles, 15HR, 73RBI, 49BB and 4SB in 122 games. Among qualified Yankees farmhands, he led the organization in hits, was tied for second in runs scored, ranked third in RBI and total bases (204), tied for fifth in doubles, sixth in batting average, tied for sixth in extra-base hits (42), tied for eighth in home runs and ninth in slugging percentage. The Richmond, Va., native was acquired by the Yankees from the Philadelphia Phillies along with LHP Joel Valdez in exchange for RHP Nick Nelson and C Donny Sands on November 19, 2021. He was originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Virginia Tech University.
🎬Pinstriped Profiles: Kevin Stevens, RHP
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 13, 2024
Signed by the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of UTRGV, where he went from walk-on to ace, the Tucson, AZ native has not allowed a run over his last 12 outings with Somerset. | @RWJBarnabas pic.twitter.com/Edx5NL0t8D
Stevens, 27, has gone 4-2 with seven saves and a 3.09 ERA (43.2IP, 37H, 16R/15ER, 20BB, 59K, 2HR) in 36 appearances over two minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2022, ‘24). The right-handed pitcher went 4-0 with seven saves and a 2.54 ERA (39.0IP, 29H, 11R/ER, 16BB, 56K, 2HR) in 31 relief appearances with Double-A Somerset in 2024. His seven saves ranked fourth among Yankees farmhands. The Anderson, Ind., native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 25, 2022.
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