This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch's Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
TAMPA, Fla. – After more than a month of drills, exhibitions and routines, the end of Spring Training is no longer something the Yankees view only in the distance. It’s posted on the clubhouse walls, where notes about luggage and vehicle transportation cycle alongside batting practice and bullpen groups.
“I’m definitely looking forward,” said left-hander Max Fried, who has been named to start on Opening Night against the Giants in San Francisco.
As the Yankees await the returns of their World Baseball Classic participants, Fried’s sentiment can be felt throughout George M. Steinbrenner Field. The players, coaches and everyone else in uniform are ready to be part of games that will count in the standings.
Here are five observations from camp:
Gearing up for Schlitt's return
There was some trepidation when Cam Schlittler experienced back and lat discomfort in mid-February, delaying the right-hander’s Grapefruit League debut until March 6.
Schlittler was able to continue throwing, and his first two spring starts have showcased more of what he showed in the second half last season: big velocity, sharp control and the ability to adjust.
“I feel great,” said Schlittler, who had a 2.96 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 73 regular-season innings. “You’re not going to be perfect after two weeks. I’ve been seeing a lot of improvement over the last month. No hiccups or anything.”
The February pause cost Schlittler time to build stamina, and he won’t be fully built up when the Yankees get to San Francisco. Figure on Schlittler being in a piggyback situation with Paul Blackburn or Ryan Yarbrough, as New York won’t need a fifth starter its first turn through.
As manager Aaron Boone said recently: “I’ll take 70 pitches of Cam Schlittler.”
Pumping gas
Gerrit Cole made his big league debut before the first Apple Watch hit the market, which is another way of saying he has seen plenty during his time in the game. It takes something special to impress him – and Carlos Lagrange has done that.
“It’s like, silly. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Cole said recently. “It’s wild. I’m just blown away by the velocity every time.”
At 103.1 mph, Lagrange has thrown the fastest pitch in any game this spring, but that hasn’t been an outlier. The 22-year-old has been consistently registering triple-digit heat, even in empty-ballpark live batting practice.
While the Yankees want to have Lagrange continue preparing as a starter, it’s tantalizing to think what he could do out of the bullpen – maybe in the second half, and perhaps sooner.
“You’ve worked so hard for something, and then you see the results right there – it’s so good,” Lagrange said.
Classic flavor
While Aaron Judge leads Team USA’s bid to win its first WBC title since 2017, the tournament has provided must-see action for his teammates back in Tampa, where the clubhouse televisions have been working overtime.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Semifinals presented by Capital One
• Bracket, schedule and how to watch
• WBC scoreboard
• Tickets
• Rosters
• Players by MLB team
• Complete coverage
As an example: On March 6, Spencer Jones walked through the room seeking an update on the score as the Yankees were hosting the Rays at Steinbrenner Field. The players in the room were focused elsewhere.
On one screen, Judge was about to face 17-year-old Joseph Contreras of Brazil. Austin Wells was batting in the Dominican Republic’s game on another, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. was leading off for Great Britain on a third.
The clubhouse audio feed wasn’t even tuned to the game taking place just a short walk away.
“It’s some of the most emotional baseball you can play,” Fried said. “You see it on the screens. You see it on the guys and how much it means to them.”
A name to know
Kervin Castro made 35 appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season, pitching to a 1.53 ERA. Added to the 40-man roster in November, the 27-year-old right-hander has carried that success into camp, becoming an intriguing bullpen choice.
“Kervin’s gotten my attention,” Boone said on Saturday.
Boone has said he believes there could be two bullpen spots up for grabs. The locks include David Bednar, Blackburn, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Tim Hill and Yarbrough.
Castro figures to be in the mix alongside Jake Bird, Brent Headrick and Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest.
The short story
Anthony Volpe stood in to track pitches during Cole’s bullpen session on Sunday, a useful drill that also offered a reminder that he is still weeks away from playing in games.
José Caballero projects to open the season as the shortstop, and the Yankees are heavily considering using Ryan McMahon as the backup shortstop.
That would provide roster flexibility if, for example, they want to carry a bench of J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt, Randal Grichuk and Amed Rosario.
“It feels and looks so much different for me. There’s a lot more space,” said McMahon, who has appeared twice at shortstop in Grapefruit League games, with one error. “I’ve gained a little bit more respect for what these shortstops have to deal with on a daily basis. It’s fun.”