Six Yankees Under the Microscope as Spring Training Begins
Spring training is almost here, and with it comes a fresh wave of hope, uncertainty, and competition in Tampa. For the New York Yankees, who’ll soon return to George M.
Steinbrenner Field, this isn’t just about ramping up for Opening Day. It’s about proving things - to coaches, to fans, and in some cases, to themselves.
Some players will use this time to experiment - maybe it’s a new grip on a breaking ball or a slight tweak in their stance at the plate. But for others, this spring is about survival.
Jobs are on the line. Roles are up for grabs.
And for a few names, the pressure to perform is already building before the first pitch is thrown.
Here are six Yankees who enter camp with something to prove - ranked from least to most pressure.
6. J.C. Escarra - Fighting Familiarity and Fit
A year ago, J.C. Escarra was one of the best stories in camp - a substitute teacher and Uber driver turned backup catcher after an eye-opening .849 OPS in spring.
But the magic didn’t last long. His regular season was largely forgettable, and now he finds himself in a crowded situation behind the plate.
The issue? Escarra hits from the left side, just like Austin Wells - the presumed starter - and Ben Rice, another young lefty bat vying for time. That redundancy has sparked some calls for the Yankees to add a right-handed catcher to balance the depth chart.
Adding to the uncertainty is the return of Paul Goldschmidt. With the veteran expected to play first base against lefties, it could push Rice back behind the plate more often. If that happens, Escarra may find himself on the outside looking in.
He doesn’t need to dominate this spring, but he does need to remind the Yankees why they gave him the shot in the first place. Another strong camp could buy him time - and maybe another chapter in his unexpected journey.
5. Cade Winquest - Rule 5 Spotlight
Cade Winquest isn’t just trying to make the jump from Double-A to The Show - he’s doing it as the Yankees’ first Rule 5 Draft pick since 2011. That alone puts a spotlight on him, especially after New York’s bullpen struggled last year and didn’t get a major offseason upgrade.
The Rule 5 status gives Winquest a bit of insulation. The Yankees can’t stash him in the minors without first offering him back to the Cardinals, so he’ll get a long look.
That said, spring isn’t a free pass. If he falters badly, the front office may be forced to make a tough call.
What he needs is flashes - moments that show he belongs. If he can mix in enough of those, even with some bumps along the way, he has a real shot to stick in the bullpen mix.
4. Angel Chivilli - The Clock Is Ticking
Angel Chivilli’s got a live arm and a vote of confidence from the Yankees’ brass - both Brian Cashman and pitching coach Matt Blake have spoken highly of the 23-year-old. But confidence only goes so far when the numbers don’t back it up.
Last season, Chivilli posted a 7.06 ERA over 58 2/3 big league innings, then followed that with a 7.00 ERA in Triple-A. Yes, he showed some progress in 2024, trimming that ERA to 4.55, but that’s still not where it needs to be.
Unlike Winquest, Chivilli has options remaining, so the Yankees can send him down without losing him. That means he has to earn his spot outright. The tools are there, and the organization believes in his upside, but spring is where he has to start converting potential into results.
3. Ryan Weathers - The Rotation Wild Card
Ryan Weathers is one of the more intriguing arms in camp - a lefty with pedigree and flashes of promise, but a track record that’s been held back by durability concerns. He’s never made more than 18 starts or thrown more than 95 innings in a season.
The pressure on Weathers isn’t just about health, though. It’s also about expectation.
Yankees fans were hoping for a splashier addition to the rotation - someone like Freddy Peralta. Instead, they got Weathers, and it’s not even clear if he was the team’s first choice from the Marlins after missing out on Edward Cabrera.
The front office has talked him up, but he enters spring with more questions than answers. Is he a back-end starter?
A swingman? A bullpen long reliever?
His role is still undefined, but a strong camp could help carve out a path - and quiet some of the noise.
2. Trent Grisham - Can He Back It Up?
Trent Grisham enters camp with his name sharpied into the center field spot - and yet, he’s still under immense pressure.
Why? Because while his 2025 breakout was impressive, it came after years of underwhelming offensive production. The analytics suggest last year wasn’t a fluke, but fans still remember the postseason struggles - and the long stretches of inconsistency before that.
Grisham was one of the first big moves in an offseason built around continuity. If he stumbles early, the criticism will come fast.
Talk radio will be buzzing. Social media will be unforgiving.
Fair or not, he’s become a symbol of this team’s decision to double down on its current core.
He doesn’t need to hit .300 in March, but he does need to show that 2025 wasn’t a flash in the pan. Otherwise, the whispers will grow louder - and the pressure will only mount.
1. Jasson Domínguez - The Martian Under the Microscope
No one in Yankees camp will be watched more closely than Jasson Domínguez.
Once dubbed “The Martian” for his out-of-this-world talent, the 23-year-old now finds himself at a crossroads. Some fans think he should be traded.
Others want him sent to Triple-A. Still others are clinging to the hope that he can finally break through.
The expectations are sky-high, and so far, he hasn’t quite met them. His right-handed swing hasn’t produced much, and his defense in left field has been shaky. What should’ve been a promising rookie campaign was instead clouded by inconsistency and questions about his fit.
Now, with Cody Bellinger re-signing elsewhere and no major outfield addition on the horizon, the Yankees need Domínguez to step up. Not eventually - now. That’s the perception, at least.
Realistically, if he can show steady improvement - especially in those two key areas - that should be enough. But in a city where patience is in short supply and the championship drought feels endless, the margin for error is razor thin.
Final Word
Spring training isn’t just about stretching arms and getting reps. For these six Yankees, it’s about proving they belong - on the roster, in the rotation, in the conversation.
Some are fighting for jobs. Others are fighting narratives.
But all of them have something to prove.
And with the pressure already building in February, the spotlight in Tampa is going to burn a little brighter this spring.