New York Yankees Spring Training Surprise Candidates

With Spring Training just around the corner, the New York Yankees will finally begin their training regiment that will ultimately determine their starting roster on Opening Day 2016.

Sure a majority of the Yankees position players are locked into place to start the season, but there are still plenty of roster spots left open on the 40-man roster for players to compete and try and earn all spring long.

That said, one of my favorite parts of spring training is finding players who are breakout candidates who come out of nowhere to make the big league rosters on Opening Day.

In years passed we saw players like Josh Phelps and Yangervis Solarte come out of nowhere to make the big league club. Will there be any breakout candidates this spring?

Here’s a list of five potential players to keep an eye out for.

1. OF Ben Gamel

Originally selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB Draft, 23-year old Ben Gamel has developed into one of the Yankees top prospects by hitting the cover off the ball at every minor league level. Sure Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott are considered to be a step closer on the minor league outfield depth chart, but a strong spring performance from Gamel can easily indicate otherwise. It was only last season that Gamel batted .300 and launched 10 homers over the wall as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leadoff batter in route to being named the International League Rookie of the Year. Hopefully some of his momentum from 2015 can carry over into this spring.

2. RHP Luis Cessa

The Yankees acquired Luis Cessa as part of a trade package that sen’t reliever Justin Wilson over to the Detroit Tigers. Prior to that, Luis Cessa was one of the top pitchers in the New York Mets minor league system, but was traded to Detroit minutes before the trade deadline in a package that brought Yoenis Cespedes to the ‘big apple.”

Despite a down year in 2015, the 23-year old Luis Cessa is still ranked as the 16th overall prospect in the Yankees system. With a fastball that sits at 95-mph and pretty decent change-up, there’s no telling what Larry Rothschild can turn this kid into. While many consider him a lock to be sent to AAA to start the season, I say he’s a dark horse to make the back end of the Yankees starting rotation.

3. RHP Vinnie Pestano

Vinnie Pestano was acquired by the Yankees a month and half ago when they signed him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Over the course of his six-year major league career, the 30-year old Pestano was a member of the Cleveland Indians from 2010 to 2013 and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2014 to 2015. Despite his career 2.98 ERA, Pestano appeared in just 19 major league games last season with the Halo’s in 2015. He hasn’t been good as of late, and his fast ball velocity has dipped in recent years, but if he can work with Rothschild to re-define his approach, I think he’s a dark horse to make the Yankees bullpen.

4. SS Pete Kozma

Say what you wan’t about Brendan Ryan‘s bat, but he was an absolute magician when it came to the defensive side of the ball. When the Yankees acquired Starlin Castro they shipped Brendan Ryan as part of the package over to Chicago. Shortly after they signed a guy named Pete Kozma to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Now despite his .222 career batting average, the 27-year old Kozma is regarded as one of the best defensive position players in all of baseball. He also has experience as both second base and short stop, which makes him very versatile when the Didi Gregorius or Starlin Castro need an off-day.

Next: Should Yankees Look Into Defected Gurriel Brothers?

Do you think any of these players will surprise the Yankees in Spring Training and make the opening day 40-man roster?

Let us know in the comments below.