Yankees Finalize Opening Day Roster: Rice and Domínguez Secure Spots
MIAMI – The New York Yankees Opening Day roster is taking shape as manager Aaron Boone officially announced Tuesday that highly touted prospects Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez will be on the team. While these selections were widely anticipated, the remaining four roster spots are yet to be determined.
Final Roster Decisions Pending
With the team en route to New York following their final exhibition game against the Marlins, the remaining four roster spots – two bench positions and two bullpen roles – are still under consideration, contingent on potential player acquisitions from elsewhere. The team has indicated a desire to acquire a right-handed bat, potentially for a platoon role at third base with Oswaldo Cabrera.
Internal Options in the Mix
Should no external additions materialize, Oswald Peraza and non-roster invitee Pablo Reyes are expected to occupy the two available position player slots. The bullpen contenders currently include Yoendrys Gómez, Yerry De Los Santos, and Brent Headrick.
Rice and Domínguez Confirmed
Prior to the Yankees’ 4-2 defeat against the Marlins, Boone explained his initial reluctance to finalize roster decisions, alluding to the dynamic nature of player moves. Although Rice was not officially informed of his roster inclusion earlier in the day, despite a standout spring training performance, Boone subsequently confirmed his place on the Opening Day team.
It is anticipated that Rice will receive substantial at-bats as the designated hitter, especially when facing right-handed pitching.
Warren Tunes Up for Season Start
Will Warren, preparing to start the season’s fourth game against the Diamondbacks next Tuesday, reached 77 pitches in his final spring training appearance versus the Marlins. In the outing, he surrendered four runs on five hits, including two home runs, and issued two walks, alongside six strikeouts. Reflecting on his performance, Warren noted, “I think I fell behind more than I would like to…Overall, it was just an OK outing,” indicating a focus on improvement for the regular season.
Although Warren experienced some difficulty in his final two spring training appearances after a promising start, Boone expressed confidence in the young right-hander’s development. “All the stuff’s there and a good buildup day again for him,” Boone stated, adding that Warren needs to concentrate on “eliminating some of the mistakes in the center of the plate.”
Yarbrough Makes Yankees Debut
Separately, Ryan Yarbrough, a recent major league signing, made his debut for the Yankees, pitching a perfect sixth inning. The left-handed reliever attributed his decision to join the Yankees to the renowned reputation of their pitching staff and their recent successes. Yarbrough commented, “Especially when you get different perspectives from different people on the outside looking in — see what they’ve seen from afar all these years against me,” emphasizing the importance of external viewpoints on his pitching.
Local Player Gets Warm Reception
J.C. Escarra, hailing from nearby Hialeah, estimated that over 50 friends and family members attended Tuesday’s game to witness his at-bat in the sixth inning, during which he received an ovation from the crowd.