New York Yankees Sign Former First-Round Pick Catcher

Adding some catching help.

The New York Yankees have signed catcher Nick Ciuffo to a minor-league contract to bolster their catching depth, following a spate of injuries to their current crop of catchers.

Yankees sign C Nick Ciuffo to a Minor League deal.

— Dugout Station (@DugoutStation) March 7, 2023

#Yankees have signed C Nick Ciuffo to a minor league contract.

— MiLB-Transactions (@tombaseball29) March 10, 2023

It is not yet clear whether the 28-year-old Ciuffo will be invited to the big league camp or start in the minor leagues.

Ciuffo has played parts of three major league seasons and holds a career .551 OPS.

In the 2022 season, he spent all of his time in Triple-A Charlotte and recorded a .277 batting average, a .325 on-base percentage, and a .411 slugging percentage, along with five home runs and 20 RBI in 151 plate appearances.

The signing makes sense for the Yankees, who are in need of catching depth due to injuries to Ben Rortvedt, Austin Wells, and Josh Breaux.

Ciuffo is a former first-round pick (21st overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2013 MLB Draft. Photo Credit:  Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports