The Yankees will take a postseason roster into October with plenty of familiar names, but also a handful of players about to get their first taste of the game’s loudest stage. Aaron Boone’s club has reached the playoffs for the eighth time in his nine seasons as manager, yet this group has a distinctly transitional feel.
Quick scan
- The Yankees are chasing their first World Series title since 2009.
- George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos have not appeared in a Major League postseason game.
- Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are injured, though either could return before roster decisions are finalized.
- Boone believes the daily pressure of playing in New York helps prepare young players for October.
Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger bring the deepest October résumés into the clubhouse, while several regulars have already logged meaningful playoff innings. The Yankees’ experience is not limited to the stars, but the newcomers may still carry a large share of the load if injuries keep veterans sidelined.
| Player | Career postseason games |
|---|---|
| Cody Bellinger | 76 |
| Aaron Judge | 65 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 29 |
| Trent Grisham | 26 |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. | 24 |
| Austin Wells | 21 |
| Anthony Volpe | 21 |
| Amed Rosario | 11 |
| Ryan McMahon | 10 |
| Ben Rice | 6 |
| José Caballero | 3 |
Lombard, Jones, García and Ramos are outside that experience chart because none has played a postseason game. García and Ramos arrived after time with other organizations, while Lombard and Jones are among the young Yankees being asked to grow up quickly in the majors.
“When you wear the Yankees uniform and play in New York, the environment has a way of preparing you for postseason baseball,” Boone said.
The fast track is hardly limited to the Bronx. Nineteen of the 37 first-round and compensatory selections from the 2023 Draft have already reached the big leagues, an unusually rapid wave of young talent.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, whose club has brought up No. 3 overall pick Max Clark and American League Rookie of the Year contender Kevin McGonigle, said today’s young players are arriving earlier and handling the leap with less awe than previous generations.
Lombard has settled in since his early-August promotion. Jones has also drawn a favorable review from Judge, who said the rookie outfielder has improved with each trip back to the major league club.
The learning curve has still shown itself. Jones went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts Wednesday and lost a fly ball in center field for an error. Lombard was unable to make a play on Victor Caratini’s grounder in the 13th inning of the Twins’ walk-off victory, a ball scored as a single.
Those plays are part of the receipt for developing in the big leagues. The Yankees will need their young players to carry the lessons forward, especially if Grisham and Chisholm cannot reclaim their spots in time for October.
Jones sounded comfortable with the challenge after the Yankees celebrated their clinch at Target Field on Monday. He said the club responds when the ballpark gets louder and added that he is eager for what lies ahead.
