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The New York Yankees received a meaningful health update on Feb. 25, 2026 when right-hander Cam Schlittler threw a simulated inning consisting of 25 live batting-practice pitches on a back field. The session marked his first time facing hitters since the team eased him back a couple of weeks earlier due to a minor back/left lat inflammation. The move was precautionary; the organization wanted to prevent the small flare-up from developing into a larger setback.
Manager Aaron Boone framed the outing as a step in Schlittler’s ramp-up toward the regular season. If he comes through the session without complications, the right-hander is expected to face hitters again on Sunday, with a Grapefruit League appearance possible later in the week. The timeline keeps Schlittler on track to be available when the Yankees begin the season if his recovery continues smoothly.
Where Schlittler stands after the live session
Wednesday’s workload was intentionally limited: 25 pitches in live batting practice rather than a full simulated game. Boone said he’s optimistic, noting that while Schlittler may not be ready for a full 80–90 pitch outing immediately, a 60–70 pitch starter can be valuable early in the campaign. The manager suggested creative deployment — including occasional piggyback starts or using off-days — could allow the team to get Schlittler into the rotation without pushing his recovery.
Next steps and potential timeline
If the right-hander remains symptom-free after the upcoming sessions, the Yankees plan a second live batting-practice day on Sunday and could slot him into Grapefruit League action late next week. The club’s measured approach is built around ensuring Schlittler reaches Opening Day healthy, rather than rushing him back and risking a recurrence of the inflammation.
Roster context: rotation, bullpen and positional depth
The broader roster picture provides context for Schlittler’s importance. Projected to be part of the early five-man rotation are left-hander Max Fried, right-hander Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, lefty Ryan Weathers, and righty Will Warren. Several frontline starters remain on the injured list to open the year, including right-handers Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Chase Hampton, as well as lefty Carlos Rodón. The timeline for their returns — Rodón (around May), Cole (around June), and Schmidt (August–September) — suggests the early rotation will evolve once those veterans arrive.
Behind the starting five, the Yankees have hunting options and insurance arms. Veterans Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn carry guaranteed contracts and are viewed both as bullpen depth and potential trade assets if the staff remains healthy. Young pitchers like Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange have camp buzz as longshots who could impact the roster in any role during the season.
Relief corps and bench considerations
The projected late-inning group includes established names such as David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Fernando Cruz, with lefty pieces like Tim Hill and Brent Headrick providing matchup flexibility. The Yankees are also sorting through the final bullpen mix, with candidates like Cade Winquest, Yarbrough, and Blackburn under consideration alongside depth arms who possess minor-league options.
Position players: recovery and lineup possibilities
Offensively and defensively, the Yankees have decisions to make related to players returning from injury and blocked prospects. Utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, coming off a fractured ankle and ligament damage sustained last May, is progressing in camp. Boone reported real improvements over the last couple of weeks and suggested Cabrera could begin to appear in Grapefruit League games late next week as he regains the final elements of his burst and agility.
Infielder Anthony Volpe is in the earlier stages of his hitting progression, roughly a week into more structured work. Boone indicated Volpe is “doing well,” taking swings off the tee and from soft toss as he rebuilds timing. Both Cabrera and Volpe are part of a larger infield group that currently includes Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jose Caballero, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, and Max Schuemann, giving the Yankees a mix of veteran starters and versatile backups.
Outfield and Opening Day alignment
The likely outfield and lineup construction for Opening Day features Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Cody bellinger, with Giancarlo Stanton designated as DH in the projected setup. Internal discussions continue about whether switch-hitting prospect Jasson Domínguez should begin at Triple-A to accumulate regular at-bats, a move that would preserve long-term development while keeping the big-league roster balanced.
As spring training progresses, Schlittler’s health checks and the tempo of Cabrera and Volpe’s recoveries will factor heavily into the Yankees’ final 26-man roster choices. For now, Wednesday’s live batting practice was a reassuring sign that one of the rotation’s rising arms is trending the right way.