New York Yankees release their non roster spring training invite list

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday afternoon their non roster spring training invite list.  It is headlined by top prospects Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Jacob Lindgren and Rob Refsnyder.  The Yankees also announced six minor league signings and then the 20 other players that were the invites to go with everyone on the 40 man roster. 

The six minor league contract guys with invites to spring training are Scott Baker a right handed pitcher, infielder Cole Figueroa, infielder Jonathan Galvez, catcher Juan Graterol, infielder Nick Noonan and catcher Eddy Rodriguez.  Baker is a guy who has had a decent career as a starting pitcher mainly with the Minnesota Twins.  He will be insurance in case someone gets hurt in spring training and he has an out clause but we don't know when that is.  I am sure if he doesn't make the team he won't want to go to AAA.  The infielders are guys who could also potentially make the team but I would list that as very unlikely unless major injuries happen.  The Yankees are probably going to have Stephen Drew at second and Didi Gregorius at short with Rob Refsnyder in AAA ready to take over at second sometime this year or next year.  The utility guy is probably going to be Jose Pirela. 

The bright up and comers that headline the prospects that will be in camp are Severino and Judge.  Severino is a dynamite starter who led all Yankees farmhands last season with 127 strikeouts.  He should start the year in AA Trenton and is rated as baseballs 23rd best prospect.  He will have a chance to make a good first impression and could even reach AAA at some point this year and be knocking on the door to the big leagues.  Judge is a power hitting right fielder who should also start out at AA Trenton.  He led the prospects in RBI last year with 78 and was rated as 68 prospect in baseball.  The Yankees have 14 guys in camp who were originally drafted by the Yankees.  Lindgren is included in this list as he was the second round pick in last year draft.  He is a left handed reliever and considered the Yankees ninth best prospect.  He could appear in the majors this season after advancing to AA last year and posting a 2.16 ERA.  Right handed reliever Nick Rumbelow, left handed reliever Tyler Webb and catcher Trent Garrison are also products of the 2014 draft.  Infielder Rob Refsnyder who is the Yankees number 6 prospect, right hander Nick Goody, left hander James Pazos were drafted in 2012 and infielder Greg Bird who is the Yankees number 11 prospect and Jack Cave the number 8 prospect were drafted in 2011.  The Yankees draft selections are rounded out by Cito Culver and Slade Heathcott who were first round selections.  Kyle Roller who is a 1B and catcher Kyle Higashioka.  In addition catcher Francisco Arcia, right hander Vincente Campos, right hander Diego Moreno and right hander Wilking Rodriguez have been invited to camp.  Andrew Bailey was also included in the list, he is a former big league closer who had been rehabbing with the Yankees last year.  He is 30 years old and owns 89 saves over 206 career appearances with the Athletics and Red Sox. 

The total number of players expected to report to camp is 66 with pitchers and catchers reporting on Friday February 20, 2015 and position players reporting a few days later with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 26, 2015.