{"id":17906,"date":"2026-02-16T14:12:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=17906"},"modified":"2026-02-16T14:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:15:17","slug":"storylines-to-follow-as-yankees-begin-spring-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/02\/16\/storylines-to-follow-as-yankees-begin-spring-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Storylines to Follow as Yankees Begin Spring Training"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/yankees\">New York Yankees<\/a> return to action this week, as the team opens spring training with an afternoon matchup against the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/orioles\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a> on Friday. It certainly doesn\u2019t bring with it the same importance as Opening Day, but it\u2019s an exciting day for MLB fans nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off another disappointing playoff run, the Yankees have several interesting storylines to monitor as they chase their 28th World Series title. These, however, are the most notable ones to follow in Florida over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n<h2>George Lombard Jr.\u2019s Development<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"VsYhnmSgSRZxIv2-O7Ebtg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2033878398\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'VsYhnmSgSRZxIv2-O7Ebtg',sig:'NjdLt5IQeb0qSJZXWFFUiTjErB-nwfTqxmxiGb9QoBo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2033878398',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nIt\u2019s no surprise that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/v\/volpean01.shtml\">Anthony Volpe\u2019s<\/a> grip on the Yankees\u2019 starting shortstop job has loosened considerably over the past year. After a career-worst 2025 campaign, Volpe underwent offseason surgery on his shoulder that projects to keep him out until early May.<\/p>\n<p>While trade-deadline acquisition <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cabaljo01.shtml\">Jose Caballero<\/a> is in line to start with Volpe out, the Yankees\u2019 top prospect, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=lombar002geo\">George Lombard Jr.<\/a>, is not far from making his major league debut. In last year\u2019s spring training, Lombard turned heads as a 19-year-old. If he can do the same this year, it\u2019s reasonable to think he joins the Yankees in 2026 or 2027.<\/p>\n<h2>Ben Rice\u2019s Offensive Production<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"6z3pVbCrQGRqXrPa-v2FSA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2238643787\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'6z3pVbCrQGRqXrPa-v2FSA',sig:'oBeHpBEekBpxFpOQSfdXjOdgRBM4Pa7VdCqas1pe-2k=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2238643787',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nIn his sophomore season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/ricebe01.shtml\">Ben Rice<\/a> enjoyed a breakout campaign. With 26 home runs and an .836 OPS, the former 12th-round pick cemented himself as a player on the rise. In 2026, Rice needs to prove his 2025 campaign was no fluke. All the underlying numbers suggest his success can be maintained, especially considering his 93.3 MPH average exit velocity, which ranked in the top 10 in baseball. Still, Rice must prove he\u2019s here to stay.<\/p>\n<h2>Will Warren\u2019s Off-Speed Pitches<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"clu6xeQaS1hTF9aMAF8idA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2218014457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'clu6xeQaS1hTF9aMAF8idA',sig:'IKy9TjhRJL9Tifa-tzRujaaytk30Ti1zXH8oNfZZ1Y4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2218014457',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nWith <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/colege01.shtml\">Gerrit Cole<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rodonca01.shtml\">Carlos Rodon<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/schmicl01.shtml\">Clarke Schmidt<\/a> all out to begin the season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/warrewi01.shtml\">Will Warren<\/a> will be relied on heavily to produce for the Yankees in 2026. Currently, he projects as the fourth starter in the rotation.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, Warren showcased one of the game\u2019s best fastballs. According to Baseball Savant, Warren\u2019s fastball run value of 17 ranked in the 95th percentile. As expected, he struck out nearly 25 percent of the batters he faced. Conversely, his breaking balls produced a run value of -17, a number that ranked in the first percentile. If Warren can improve his off-speed pitches, specifically his sweeper, it would go a long way for an already thin Yankees rotation.<\/p>\n<h2>Ryan Weathers&#8217; Performance<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"bXjrd1gMQq9AGZOP1hkHAA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2151349051\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'bXjrd1gMQq9AGZOP1hkHAA',sig:'HywE-5WfrmTjnKPPMKjwk03hHgIm_HvC8EXoFFSDPLg=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2151349051',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nLike Warren, offseason acquisition <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/weathry01.shtml\">Ryan Weathers<\/a> figures to be the Yankees\u2019 fifth and final starter to begin the 2026 season. Despite missing a good bit of time last year, Weathers will be ready to go on Opening Day.<\/p>\n<p>Since pitchers reported to Florida last week, reports have already surfaced that Weathers\u2019 fastball has reached over 98 MPH. That number, especially for February, is extremely encouraging for a player coming back from injury. If he can sustain those numbers, it would likely determine whether or not the Yankees would need to call up a pitching prospect like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=lagran000car\">Carlos Lagrange<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=rodrig000elm\">Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"dKUFYtXfTc5taWPCORBEUw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2092445714\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'dKUFYtXfTc5taWPCORBEUw',sig:'HD-Xtx9GdpGaUa406KA7hQmzA8gdZtPep3ZtUPISmrg=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2092445714',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New York Yankees return to action this week, as the team opens spring training with an afternoon matchup against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. It certainly doesn\u2019t bring with it the same importance as Opening Day, but it\u2019s an exciting day for MLB fans nonetheless. Coming off another disappointing playoff run, the Yankees have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":17912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2275,1135,2102,2260,104,383,2261,1998,386,1997,874,1985],"class_list":["post-17906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yankees","tag-2025-26-mlb-offseason","tag-anthony-volpe","tag-ben-rice","tag-carlos-lagrange","tag-carlos-rodon","tag-clarke-schmidt","tag-elmer-rodriguez-cruz","tag-george-lombard-jr","tag-gerrit-cole","tag-jose-caballero","tag-ryan-weathers","tag-will-warren","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Storylines to Follow as Yankees Begin Spring Training<\/title>\n<meta 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