Alexander Wilson
The New York Yankees are down to the final stretch of roster construction, and Sunday’s cuts made the picture a little clearer. Following Game 1 of a split squad afternoon, the Yankees reassigned six players to minor league camp: OF Duke Ellis, OF Yanquiel Fernández, INF/OF Ernesto Martínez Jr., INF Jonathan Ornelas, C Miguel Palma, and INF Zack Short.
None of these moves are surprises. All six came to Tampa as non-roster invitees with long odds of cracking the Opening Day roster. Here is a quick rundown of each.
The Yankees’ Latest Six Cuts:
Duke Ellis, OF, 28 — Ellis has been a perennial spring presence for the Yankees, invited back year after year on the strength of his elite speed. He has swiped 180 bags across the lower levels of the minors in his career and made a memorable cameo on the 2024 ALDS roster, but he has never been able to stick at the big league level offensively. Scranton is where he belongs for now, and he remains a useful depth piece when the Yankees need a pinch runner or defensive replacement in September.
Yanquiel Fernández, OF, 23 — Fernández is the most intriguing name on this list. A former top-100 prospect, he was claimed off waivers from the Rockies and outrighted to Triple-A earlier this spring. His 2025 MLB debut with Colorado was rough — a 55 wRC+ across 52 games — but he hit .284 with 13 home runs and a .502 slugging percentage at Triple-A before that promotion. His arm is elite, averaging 97.2 mph on throws from right field, ranking in the 100th percentile. If he figures out big league pitching, the Yankees have something real here.
Ernesto Martínez Jr., INF/OF, 26 — Martínez signed a minor league deal out of the Brewers organization last winter. A left-handed hitter who plays primarily first base, he posted a 104 wRC+ at Triple-A in 2025 across 80 games while improving his walk rate and cutting strikeouts. He is not a name anybody outside of prospect circles knows, but he is a legitimate professional hitter who deserves a chance to play every day at Scranton.
Jonathan Ornelas, INF, 25 — A third-round pick by the Rangers back in 2018, Ornelas earned minor league Defender of the Year honors in 2022 and has brief big league experience with Texas and Atlanta. He has not been able to hit at the MLB level, slashing .208/.263/.245 in 32 career games, but his versatility and glove give him minor league roster value.
Miguel Palma, C, 27 — Palma is a depth catcher who signed away from the Astros organization this past offseason. He provides a third option behind Austin Wells and JC Escarra and will handle catching duties in Scranton to give their pitching staff game reps.
Zack Short, INF, 30 — Short has 243 career big league games under his belt, bouncing through Detroit, the Mets, Boston, Atlanta, and Houston. He is a utility infielder who can cover shortstop and second, but his career .172/.271/.296 line tells you he is organizational depth rather than a roster lock.
The Yankees’ 26-man Opening Day picture is coming into focus fast, and none of these cuts are surprising.
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