Why Yankees’ hard-hitting prospect hasn’t played in a week

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Yankees prospect Elijah Dunham had a strong spring debut last Sunday, racking up two hits while making a diving grab in right field.

One week later, that start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin is still Dunham’s only game played this spring.

Dunham has been dealing with some shoulder soreness at camp this week, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday before a Grapefruit League game against the Braves at CoolToday Park. Later in the day, Dunham was one of seven players reassigned to minor-league camp. Catchers Austin Wells and Josh Breaux — who are also hurt — were among the first big-league cuts of the spring as well.

As much as this cuts down on Dunham’s playing time in spring training — a chance for the hard-hitting prospect to make an impression before likely beginning the season in Triple-A — Boone wasn’t concerned about the issue in the slightest.

“He’s starting to ramp up again today, so he should be alright in a few days,” Boone said.

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That puts Dunham in a position to get back into game action within the next week or two.

Dunham, 24, had a strong season in a full year with Double-A Somerset in 2022, hitting .248 with 17 home runs, 63 RBI, 26 doubles and 37 steals in 110 games. Signed by the Yankees as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2020, Dunham burst onto the scene in the Arizona Fall League one year later, named Breakout Player of the Year after batting .357 with a 1.037 OPS in 23 games. Dunham is a non-roster invitee at big-league camp this spring.

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Here’s the latest MLB Pipeline scouting report on Dunham, who is ranked as the Yankees’ No. 18 prospect:

Dunham doesn’t have a true standout tool but can do a little bit of everything offensively. He makes regular hard contact with his compact left-handed stroke, has the bat speed and strength to generate 20-homer power and owns the discipline to take walks if pitchers try to work around him. Though he has fringy speed, he’s instinctive and aggressive on bases and finished third in the Eastern League with 37 steals in 44 tries last year.

Dunham began his college career as a first baseman but has played mostly left field since. He has decent range and fringy-to-average arm strength that’s a bit stretched when he gets time in right field. While his ceiling seems to be that of a second-division regular, he plays with constant energy and continues to exceed expectations.