Yankees' C-team lineup blanked by Nats on sleepy spring night

New York's top prospects fail to produce in exhibition loss

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The New York Yankees sent a lineup of mostly minor league prospects and depth players to face the Washington Nationals on Saturday night, and the result was a 3-0 shutout loss. Yankees pitcher Will Warren had a solid outing, but the offense was non-existent, managing just three hits on the night.

Why it matters

This spring training game provided a glimpse into the Yankees' depth and development pipeline, as many of the team's top prospects and recent call-ups were given a chance to play. The lackluster performance raises questions about the readiness of some of these young players to contribute at the major league level.

The details

Yankees pitcher Will Warren threw four innings, allowing one unearned run on two walks and three strikeouts. Reliever Jake Bird struggled, walking the first batter he faced and allowing two more runs to score. On offense, the Yankees managed just three hits, with Jasson Domínguez, George Lombard Jr., and Spencer Jones reaching base. Lombard Jr. was also picked off at first base.

  • The game took place on Saturday night, March 8, 2026.

The players

Will Warren

A Yankees pitcher who had a solid outing, throwing four innings and allowing one unearned run.

Jake Bird

A Yankees reliever who struggled in his appearance, walking the first batter he faced and allowing two more runs to score.

Jasson Domínguez

A Yankees prospect who reached base in the game.

George Lombard Jr.

A Yankees prospect who reached base but was also picked off at first base.

Spencer Jones

A Yankees prospect who reached base twice, with a single and a walk.

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What they’re saying

“It's absolute nonsense that a game featuring so many top prospects and recent graduates wasn't televised, but then again, maybe we're all better off for not having seen this matchup on Saturday night.”

— Joshua Diemert, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Yankees will face the Mets in their next spring training game on Sunday, March 9, 2026, with Ryan Weathers getting the start for New York.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the depth and development challenges the Yankees face, as their top prospects struggled to produce against a Nationals lineup that is also in rebuilding mode. The performance raises questions about the readiness of these young players to contribute at the major league level, but also provides the team with valuable evaluation opportunities as they look to build for the future.