Yankees Promote Former Top Prospect

Jake Bauers was only on the taxi squad for one day.

On Saturday, the Yankees promoted Bauers to the active roster to take Franchy Cordero's spot after optioning him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Friday night.

Bauers was flown to meet the Yankees in Texas after Aaron Judge left Thursday night's game with the Rangers due to a hip issue. Judge's MRI revealed a mild hip strain, and the Yankees intend on making an IL decision on Monday.

So instead of replacing Judge, Bauers was promoted anyway and took Cordero's spot.

Bauers got off to a blistering start for Scranton, hitting .319 with a 1.271 OPS and nine home runs in 21 games this season. 

“What he’s doing at Triple-A right now has been phenomenal,” Boone told reporters. “He’s earned that opportunity to at least be in this position to be truly considered and he’s done that with his performance.”

Bauers, a left-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman, has not appeared in the major leagues since 2021.

A former top 100 prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays, Bauers hit .213 with a .655 OPS in 328 career big-league games across parts of three different seasons. 

Bauers told reporters that a change in his mental approach has helped him find success this year.

“I’ve struggled mentally over the course of my career so far,” Bauers said. “I did a lot of work on myself to get to a place where I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

“Adversity, challenges, failing, succeeding, all of it,” he said. “I’ve kind of been in a place where I would ride the waves for a little bit. Now I feel like I’m more present with everything I’m doing. I’m more present on the field and I’m kind of just taking everything as it comes.”

This has helped Bauers find his power stroke, hitting nine homers in 87 plate appearances this season. His previous career-high was 14 homers in Double-A back in 2016.

“I think just consistency,” Bauers said. “It’s always been in there, it just hasn’t always shown up in games. So I feel like the Yankees, to their credit, have gotten my swing to a place where I’m able to do it consistently. Hopefully nothing changes now that I’m here.”

To clear room for Bauers on the 40-man roster, the Yankees moved reliever Lou Trivino (elbow) to the 60-day IL.

Trivino is scheduled to get a second opinion on Monday after suffering a setback in his rehab. 

Follow Pat Ragazzo on Twitter (@ragazzoreport). Be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more.