Zoilo

Almonte

It’s been nearly a decade since Almonte last appeared in the majors. The 33-year-old outfielder played three seasons for the Dragons from 2018 through 2020 and has split the last two years between the KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization and Monterrey in the Mexican League.

The Yankees also reassigned left-hander Manny Banuelos, right-handers Dan Burawa, RHP Brett Marshall, Adam Miller, Ryan Pope, Graham Stoneburner and Chase Whitley, catchers Kyle Higashioka, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez to minor league camp. Banuelos is the organization’s top prospect now that Jesus Montero is in Seattle and while the Yankees’ have plenty of starting pitching depth at the moment, he could be major-league ready at some point this summer.

Almonte batted .276/.345/.459 with 15 homers and 18 steals between High- and Double-A this season. He’s an unexciting talent but one the Yankees felt they couldn’t lose in the Rule 5 draft.

Almonte, 24, was batting .297/.369/.421 with six home runs, 36 RBI, and a .789 OPS through 68 games this season in Triple-A. The switch-hitter will serve as an extra outfielder and bench bat.

He also received a curtain call. Not bad for his first major league start. The 24-year-old switch-hitter was batting .297/.369/.421 with six homers and a .789 OPS over 68 games at the Triple-A level this season. We don’t have very high expectations from a fantasy perspective, but it won’t take much for him to outproduce Vernon Wells.

Almonte had an outside shot at landing a roster spot given the Yankees’ outfield issues, but he’ll start the year at Triple-A instead. Warren is an option for long relief or a spot start down the line.

It only cost Almonte a couple days of workouts. The 24-year-old outfielder has been on the disabled list since July 19 with a badly-sprained left ankle. He is aiming to return to the Yankees at some point in September.

Gardner should be ready to rock on Friday night. Ichiro Suzuki will start in center field, Zoilo Almonte will play left and Vernon Wells will handle right on Thursday afternoon as the Yankees wrap up a series with Texas.

Both Almonte and Vernon Wells played today, with Ichiro Suzuki getting the day off. Most days, it figures to be Almonte over Wells in left field, if only until Curtis Granderson returns. Almonte is hitting .342 in 38 at-bats since being called up two weeks ago.

He’s taking a seat with left-hander Scott Diamond on the hill for Minnesota. Vernon Wells will start in right field Monday while Zoilo Almonte will play left.