The New York Yankees continue their tradition of inviting promising prospects to big league Spring Training camp for 2026. The group features the club's top two prospects, George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange, alongside several intriguing pitchers. This approach has previously launched careers like Anthony Volpe's.
The New York Yankees have extended non-roster invitations to a talented group of prospects for their 2026 Spring Training, emphasizing their strategy of exposing young talent to major league competition early. This cohort includes the Yankees' top two prospects according to MLB rankings: infielder George Lombard Jr. at No. 32 and right-hander Carlos Lagrange at No. 79. Several pitching prospects, expected to rank in the club's Top 30 for 2026, round out the invitees.
Historically, such invitations have proven fruitful for the Yankees. In 2023, they invited Top 100 prospects Anthony Volpe and Jasson Domínguez, with Volpe securing an Opening Day roster spot and becoming the youngest Yankee to start on Opening Day since Derek Jeter in 1996. More recently, Cam Schlittler transitioned from a non-roster invite last year to a key role in the majors.
Among the five prospects highlighted, George Lombard Jr. stands out for his defensive prowess and plate discipline. The 6-foot-2 shortstop slugged two home runs in last year's Spring Training, then posted a .329/.495/.488 slash line in 24 High-A games before promotion to Double-A Somerset at age 19. At Double-A, he faced competition 3.5 years older on average, achieving a .695 OPS with eight homers over 108 games, 35 stolen bases, and a system-leading 87 walks, despite a 26.4% strikeout rate.
Carlos Lagrange, a 6-foot-7 right-hander from the Dominican Republic, made significant strides in 2025 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 23 starts, reaching Double-A. His 70-grade four-seamer touches 99 mph, and he recorded 168 strikeouts in 120 innings, third-most in the minors, with a 12.6 K/9 rate.
Ben Hess, a 2024 first-round pick, overcame college injuries to fan 139 batters in 103 1/3 professional innings, holding opponents to a .177 average over 22 starts. He excelled at Double-A with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts.
Brendan Beck, 27, has battled elbow issues, including Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missing 2022 and 2024 seasons, but posted a 1.82 ERA at Double-A in 2025 before mixed Triple-A results. He is slated to pitch for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.
Left-hander Kyle Carr, the group's sole southpaw, dominated High-A with a 1.96 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 22 starts, though he struggled in a late Double-A call-up.
Other notable invitees include reliever Harrison Cohen (1.76 ERA across Double- and Triple-A), former Cubs prospect Michael Arias (electric stuff but control issues at Double-A), and power-hitting first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr. (six homers in Triple-A last year). These players could follow the path of past successes as the Yankees build for the future.
