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Who is Yanquiel Fernandez? Yankees add this outfielder for 2026 season
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- Who is Yanquiel Fernandez? Yankees add this outfielder for 2026 season
NEW YORK – Another lefty-hitting outfielder is in the Yankees ' spring training mix.
On Wednesday, the Yankees claimed Yanquiel Fernandez off waivers from the Colorado Rockies , making room on the 40-man roster by designating right-hander Dom Hamel for assignment.
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Fernandez, 23, made his MLB debut last year with the Rockies, posting a .613 OPS in 147 plate appearances (52 games) with four homers and 11 RBI.
Noted for his strong throwing arm and power potential at the plate, the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Fernandez made 16 starts in right field and one in left field for the 2025 Rockies.
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Last year at Class AAA Albuquerque, Fernandez batted .284 with an .849 OPS in 64 games.
Fernandez has one minor league option remaining, and the Yankees' current outfield alignment doesn't appear to have room for another lefty hitter, with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham returning and switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez and slugging lefty-hitting prospect Spencer Jones in camp.
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Plus, with spring training set to begin next week, the Yankees are still in the market for a right-handed hitting corner outfielder or first baseman.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees add Yanquiel Fernandez from Rockies via waivers
