The New York Yankees made their latest round of spring training cuts on Thursday, bookending their 4-3 exhibition win over the Detroit Tigers. Before the game, the team announced that they re-assigned right-handers Brendan Beck and Ben Hess to minor league camp. After the game, they did the same with their No. 1-ranked prospect, infielder George Lombard Jr. Some or all of them remain likely to play in the Yankees’ upcoming Spring Breakout game.

Yankees Cut Trio of Prospects from Big League Roster as Spring Training Continues

Prior to today’s game, the Yankees reassigned RHP Brendan Beck and RHP Ben Hess to minor league camp.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 12, 2026

Brendan Beck

Beck was the Yankees’ No. 11 overall prospect on last year’s MLB Pipeline rankings, but dropped to No. 22 in the latest installment. This spring, he appeared in a single game, pitching three innings and giving up three runs on four hits, with one walk and one strikeout. While this outing was far from impressive, he fared much better starting a game for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic. He tossed four shutout innings against Brazil with two walks and four strikeouts, helping spur Team GB to their lone win of the tournament, 8-1.

Yankees No. 22 ranked prospect RHP @brendan_beck3 dominated for @GB_Baseball: 🇬🇧

4 IP // 0 H // 0 ER // 2 BB // 4 K pic.twitter.com/iyrqPZqtg4

— NYYPlayerDev (@NYYPlayerDev) March 9, 2026

A second-round pick out of Stanford in the 2021 MLB Draft, Beck split last season between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Across 26 appearances (including 24 starts), he pitched to a 13-5 record with a 3.36 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, and 123 strikeouts in 131 1/3 innings. Beck fared better at Double-A, pitching to a 1.82 ERA there as opposed to 4.44 at Triple-A. The latter is where he will likely begin this season. However, as he is on the older side for a prospect at 27, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the majors sometime in 2026, whether as an injury replacement or a late-season call-up.

Ben Hess

Hess, a 2024 draftee out of Alabama, looked decent in his two games of spring action. In five innings of work, he had a 1.80 ERA, surrendering three hits while striking out six and walking two. Last season, he pitched for High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, going 7-4 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.074 WHIP, and an impressive 139 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings of work. The 6′ 5″ right-hander could become an intimidating starter for the Yankees in the near future if all goes as planned. However, he will need some seasoning at Triple-A before the Yankees consider calling him up. While he may still see the big leagues in 2026, next season and beyond will be when he’s fully on the radar of Yankees fans.

Yankees No. 5 prospect Ben Hess looked sharp today:

3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

NYY’s 1st pick in 2024 figures to start 2026 in Double A. pic.twitter.com/gBTMmk21st

— The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) February 23, 2026

George Lombard Jr.

Lombard, a first-round pick (26th overall) out of high school in 2023, is arguably the most exciting farmhand in the Yankees’ system at the moment, currently topping the team’s prospect rankings. A shortstop by trade, the potential of him stepping in if Anthony Volpe’s struggles from last year continue remains a tantalizing possibility. Lombard, 20, is having an up-and-down spring at the plate. In 11 games, he is hitting only .185, but has a home run, six RBI, a .741 OPS, and five runs scored. Lombard has also flashed the leather in the infield, inspiring hope that he could become a five-tool player at the big-league level.

George Lombard Jr. has a strong internal clock, intangibles, and intuition which gives him an edge in the field. pic.twitter.com/FpvxKeDr8t

— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) February 26, 2026

However, Lombard will need to hit more consistently if that is to happen, putting up averages in the .230s in his last two minor league campaigns. While there’s plenty of room for improvement on that front, speed remains one of his most impressive qualities. He had 39 steals in 2024 and 35 last season. Lombard is another Yankees prospect yet to play at Triple-A, but the team may want to give him reps there this season, given his high profile. This makes him most likely to appear in the Bronx as a late-season call-up, if at all, but eyes will remain glued to him down on the farm until he finally debuts.

 

Main Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images