The New York Yankees announced on Monday that infielder Braden Shewmake and right-handed pitcher Dom Hamel, both recently designated for assignment, have cleared waivers and been outrighted to their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Despite the assignment, both players will remain with major league camp as non-roster invitees, providing the team with additional depth options during spring training.
Shewmake’s Defensive Versatility Remains a Valuable Asset
Braden Shewmake’s outright designation comes almost exactly one year after the Yankees acquired him off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. During the 2025 season in Triple-A, Shewmake posted a .244 batting average with a .318 on-base percentage and a .362 slugging percentage, tallying four home runs alongside 15 stolen bases across 315 plate appearances. A former first-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2019, Shewmake has compiled a .241/.304/.386 batting line over parts of four Triple-A seasons and 1,181 plate appearances.
Although Shewmake does not provide significant offensive production, his value lies mainly in his defensive capabilities. A glove-first infielder, he has primarily played shortstop—the position where he has logged over 2,800 innings in his professional career—but he also brings versatility with experience at second base and third base, accumulating 765 innings and 118 innings at those positions respectively. The Yankees view him as a reliable defensive reserve who could be called upon to provide depth on the bench, especially if injuries create a need for a defensively strong infielder.
Dom Hamel Offers Bullpen Depth with Major League Experience
Dom Hamel, originally selected in the third round by the New York Mets in 2021, made his major league debut with the Yankees last September, pitching one scoreless inning against six batters faced. Despite struggles at Triple-A, where he owns a 6.27 ERA over 192â…“ innings, Hamel has shown potential by striking out 22.6% of batters faced. However, control has been an issue, as he has had an 11.2% walk rate, although his command improved in 2025 compared to 2024, dropping from 13.2% to 7.4% walks while raising strikeouts from 21.3% to 25.2%.
Hamel’s pitching arsenal includes a fastball that sits in the 92-93 mph range, complemented by an upper-80s cutter and a low-80s slider. During the 2025 season, he generated a solid 13.2% swinging-strike rate in Triple-A and performed better after transitioning from a starting role to primarily relieving. Like Shewmake, Hamel remains with the organization as a depth option and could be called up to strengthen the bullpen if the Yankees face injury-related shortages.
Roster Moves Aim to Maintain Depth Amid Uncertainties
By outrighting Shewmake and Hamel to Triple-A while keeping them in major league camp, the Yankees are tactically preserving experienced players who can step up if necessary. Given the inherent unpredictability of injuries and roster demands during the long season, both Shewmake’s defensive skill set and Hamel’s pitching potential enhance the team’s contingency plans. Their presence could prove vital in maintaining stability and flexibility as the season unfolds.
