Yankees release World Series roster, with Marcus Stroman on it and Jon Berti not on it
Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman speaks to the press during World Series Media Day on October 24, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
LOS ANGELES — The Yankees, as expected, went with 13 pitchers for their 26-man World Series roster, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a surprise or two when the club released the roster early Friday afternoon.
With Marcus Stroman and Jon Berti heading that list.
In the case of Berti, Aaron Boone disclosed several hours after the Yankees released their roster that the utility man had suffered a “right hip flexor strain” during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. Berti was not available for Game 5 of that series, which the Yankees won in five games, but would have been on the World Series roster if not for the injury, Boone said.
“It’s a blow,” Boone said of Berti being injured.
Nestor Cortes, who missed the first two rounds with a flexor strain in his left elbow, made the cut, which was entirely expected. The lefthander healed far quicker than initially thought and was actually a consideration to be added to the ALCS roster when Ian Hamilton suffered a calf injury (Mark Leiter Jr. was added instead).
Less expected was the inclusion of Stroman, who was left off the ALDS roster, was on the ALCS roster but did not pitch in the five-game series victory over Cleveland.
Berti started two games in the Division Series at first base. He acquitted himself well in the field and at the plate, where he went 2-for-7 with a walk in those two starts. Berti started at first in Game 3 of the ALCS in Cleveland in place of Anthony Rizzo, who missed the first round with two broken fingers in his right hand, and went 0-for-4.
No Berti on the roster leaves Oswaldo Cabrera, who started the other two games at first against the Royals in the ALDS, as the lone utilityman (Jazz Chisholm Jr. is listed on the roster as a utility player because he can play outfield but he’s expected to start every game at third base, as he did in the first two rounds).
Leiter, who recorded a handful of critical outs in the ALCS after replacing Hamilton, made the roster, as did reserve outfielder Trent Grisham, who did not see any action in the first two rounds.
PITCHERS
Jake Cousins
Luis Gil
Tim Hill
Clay Holmes
Tommy Kahnle
Mark Leiter Jr.
Tim Mayza
Carlos Rodon
Clarke Schmidt
Marcus Stroman
Luke Weaver
CATCHERS
Austin Wells
Jose Trevino
INFIELDERS
Anthony Rizzo
Gleyber Torres
Anthony Volpe
OUTFIELDERS
Jasson Dominguez
Trent Grisham
Alex Verdugo
UTILITY
Oswaldo Cabrera
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
