The New York Yankees have signed utility player Cooper Hummel to a minor league contract, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported on April 4.
Utilityman Cooper Hummel and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a minor league deal, sources tell ESPN. Hummel, 30, elected free agency after being DFA’d and will report to AAA. A switch hitter, Hummel would make $820K if he’s in the big leagues, as Yankees need a RH bat.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 4, 2025
Hummel, a 30-year-old switch hitter, elected free agency after being designated for assignment and will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He will earn $820,000 if added to the Major League roster.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Hummel has appeared in parts of three MLB seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2022), Seattle Mariners (2023), and Houston Astros (2024).
During spring training with Houston, Hummel appeared in 17 games and hit .316/.435/.447 over 46 plate appearances. He collected 12 hits, including five doubles, with three RBI, two stolen bases, seven walks, and nine strikeouts before being designated for assignment on March 27 and electing free agency on April 3.
During spring training with Houston, Hummel appeared in 17 games and hit .316/.435/.447 over 46 plate appearances. He collected 12 hits, including five doubles, with three RBI, two stolen bases, seven walks, and nine strikeouts before being designated for assignment on March 27 and electing free agency on April 3. According to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, Hummel was out of minor league options, which required the Astros to designate him despite his strong spring. He also has prior experience at catcher from earlier in his career, in addition to first base and the outfield.
Last season, Hummel split time between Triple-A Sugar Land and the Astros. At Triple-A, he played in 101 games and posted a .277 batting average with 97 hits, 26 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 59 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He drew 79 walks and struck out 89 times, finishing with a .873 OPS.
Defensively, Hummel started 59 games in left and right field for Sugar Land, logging 525.1 innings with 108 chances, 104 putouts, two assists, two errors, and a .981 fielding percentage. He also made 20 starts at first base, totaling 177.1 innings with 165 chances, 149 putouts, 12 assists, four errors, and 15 double plays, posting a .976 fielding percentage.
Hummel debuted for Houston on June 15, 2024, at home against the Detroit Tigers. He appeared in five games with the Astros, going hitless in eight plate appearances with one stolen base and two strikeouts before being optioned to Sugar Land on July 2. In the field, he made one start and four total appearances in left, recording three putouts in 10 innings.
In 2023, Hummel spent time with both the Mariners and Triple-A Tacoma. With Seattle, he played in 10 games and batted .087 with two hits, one double, one stolen base, two walks, and nine strikeouts over 26 plate appearances. At Tacoma, he appeared in 104 games and hit .262/.409/.435 with 95 hits, 27 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, 47 RBI, 26 stolen bases, 82 walks, and 106 strikeouts across 455 plate appearances.
Across three Major League seasons, Hummel has played in 82 games and logged 235 plate appearances, hitting .159 with 33 hits, nine doubles, three triples, three home runs, 17 RBI, six stolen bases, 25 walks, 75 strikeouts, and a .531 OPS.
(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
