{"id":622936,"date":"2026-03-14T05:05:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T05:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/622936\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T05:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T05:05:12","slug":"yankees-cut-handful-of-promising-prospects-as-spring-rolls-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/622936\/","title":{"rendered":"Yankees Cut Handful of Promising Prospects as Spring Rolls On"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a> and Ben Hess<\/a> to minor league camp. After the game, they did the same with their No. 1-ranked prospect, infielder George Lombard Jr.<\/a> Some or all of them remain likely to play in the Yankees\u2019 upcoming Spring Breakout game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yankees Cut Trio of Prospects from Big League Roster as Spring Training Continues<\/p>\n

Prior to today\u2019s game, the Yankees reassigned RHP Brendan Beck and RHP Ben Hess to minor league camp.<\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Brendan Beck<\/p>\n

Beck was the Yankees\u2019 No. 11 overall prospect<\/a> on last year\u2019s MLB Pipeline rankings, but dropped to No. 22 in the latest installment<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

Yankees No. 22 ranked prospect RHP @brendan_beck3<\/a> dominated for @GB_Baseball<\/a>: \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/p>\n

4 IP \/\/ 0 H \/\/ 0 ER \/\/ 2 BB \/\/ 4 K pic.twitter.com\/iyrqPZqtg4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYYPlayerDev (@NYYPlayerDev) March 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019t be surprising to see him in the majors sometime in 2026, whether as an injury replacement or a late-season call-up.<\/p>\n

Ben Hess<\/p>\n

Hess, a 2024 draftee<\/a> 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\u2032 5\u2033 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\u2019s fully on the radar of Yankees fans.<\/p>\n

Yankees No. 5 prospect Ben Hess looked sharp today:<\/p>\n

3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K<\/p>\n

NYY\u2019s 1st pick in 2024 figures to start 2026 in Double A. pic.twitter.com\/gBTMmk21st<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) February 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

George Lombard Jr.<\/p>\n

Lombard, a first-round pick<\/a> (26th overall) out of high school in 2023, is arguably the most exciting farmhand in the Yankees\u2019 system at the moment, currently topping the team\u2019s prospect rankings. A shortstop by trade, the potential of him stepping in if Anthony Volpe\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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

\u2014 Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Main Photo Credit: \u00a9 Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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