The Yankees 2020 Opening Day roster is starting to come into focus ahead of Opening Night in DC, against the reigning champions Washington Nationals on July 23rd. Here’s a look:
C: Gary Sanchez
1B: Luke Voit
2B: DJ LeMahieu (2B/1B)
SS: Gleyber Torres (Can also play 2B and 3B)
3B: Gio Urshela (Can also play SS)
LF: Brett Gardner (CF)
CF: Aaron Hicks
RF: Aaron Judge
DH: Giancarlo Stanton
BENCH:
Mike Ford
Mike Tauchman (LF/RF)
Kyle Higashioka
Tyler Wade (2B,SS,LF, RF)
Miguel Andujar (3B, 1B, LF)
Thairo Estrada (2B,3B,SS, RF)
Taxi Squad/Reserves.
Clint Frazier
Chris Ianntea
Starters:
Gerrit Cole
James Paxton
Opener
Jordan Montgomery
JA Happ
Bullpen:
Zack Brittion
Adam Ottavino
Tommy Kahlene
Chad Green
Jonothan Holder
Tyler Lyons
Mike King
David Hale
Ben Heller
Luis Avilan
WHOS IN.
Aaron Judge went deep 3 times in 2 exhibition games against the Mets (A 6-0 win) and the Phillies (A 2-2 tie), so any doubts about his health and readiness for Opening Day is gone. As for Thairo Estrada, his 3 homers in Summer Camp, has earned the prospect a bench spot on the roster. We also saw the health of Miguel Andujar, with him going deep off of Gerrit Cole in a Yankees scrimmage earlier in Summer Camp.
Giancarlo Stanton , Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier and Luke Voit all went deep in Summer Camp exhibition games against the Mets and Phillies, which resulted in wins of 9-3 and 6-0 over the Mets, and a 2-2 tie with the Phillies respectively. Mike Ford looks good as well, with him ending Summer Camp with a pinch hit game-tying homer against the Phillies at Yankee Stadium. One more thing to note, is that Clint Frazier will be vital, should the Yankees need an extra outfielder due to an injury, or someone being in a slump.
On the pitching side, prospect Micheal King impressed the Yankees in summer camp and has earned a long-relief spot on the roster.
WHOS OUT:
Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Cessa, Jordan Montgomery, Aroldis Chapman, Clarke Schmidt, and Devi Garcia have all not made the Yankees Opening Day roster. Tanaka and Montgomery though, should be joining the Yankees shortly, as Montgomery needs one more week reps to get ready, while Tanaka is still recovering from the incident on July 4th, when he took and accidental 112MPH line-drive to the head off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton, and was diagnosed with a mild concussion. The Yankees say, he will only his first start in the rotation (Hence the bullpen game), and make his debut the second time around, July 31st against the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx. The Yankees will be using thee off day in between game’s 1 and 2 against the Nationals to their advantage, by going with a 4 man rotation of Cole, Paxton, Opener (Starter will depend on bullpen usage in first two games), and JA Happ for game 4 against Philadelphia, before going back to Gerrit Cole for game 5, and the insertion Jordan Montgomery for game 6, making James Paxton the #3 starter for the series finale against the Phillies and Masahiro Tanaka #4 upon return.
As for Aroldis Chapman and Luis Cessa, they are both still working their way back after testing positive for the virus. Cessa has recovered but isn’t “game-ready” as of yet, while Chapman I’m still recovering. It is hopeful, that both will rejoin the team 2-3 weeks into the season. Meanwhile, Yankees top pitching prospects Devi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt, they will head to the Yankees alternate Spring Training site in Scranton, Pennsylvania to prepare for a possible call to the big leagues this season, should the Yankees need bullpen help.
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