How Rafael Flores evolved from undrafted free agent into Yankees catcher fitting ‘the mold in a lot of ways’

TAMPA — Over the last 16 months alone, the Yankees have traded away five catchers, and still, they are likely to carry three catchers they feel strongly about on the Opening Day roster.

But the depth doesn’t end there.

Early this spring, manager Aaron Boone mentioned being “excited about the next wave coming of catchers that we have that [were] jumping off the page” in the first days of camp.

One in particular ended up popping by the end of spring: Rafael Flores, who on Sunday was named the winner of the 2024 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees’ minor league Position Player of the Year.