The Yankees added depth to their upper minors Friday, reaching a minor league deal with switch-hitting outfielder/catcher Cooper Hummel, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The 30-year-old had elected free agency just one day earlier after being outrighted off the Astros’ 40-man roster.

It came after Cody Bellinger missed Friday’s game with a back issue. The outfielder has dealt with back issues in the past, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone insisted it was minor before Friday’s 9-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hummel will likely be headed for Triple-A Scranton. A former Diamondbacks and Mariners prospect will earn $820,000 if he’s called up to the majors. He is out of minor league options, meaning if the Yankees do promote him to the big-league roster, they’d have to keep him there or expose him to waivers again.

 Hummel hit .316 with seven walks and nine strikeouts in 46 plate appearances this spring, trying to win a spot on the Houston Astros’ bench.

They \ultimately chose to go in a different direction, selecting infielder Brendan Rodgers as their final bench piece. Hummel was designated for assignment on Opening Day and passed through waivers before electing free agency.

Hummel spent most of 2024 in Triple-A with Houston, posting an impressive .277/.419/.454 slash line with a standout 17.9% walk rate across 442 plate appearances. He went 0-for-8 in the big leagues last season, but he has positional versatility, which the Yankees value. He can play both corner outfield spots and catch.

Hummel offers flexibility and roster depth. Considering the Yankees’ injury bug this year, he’s a smart add to stash in Scranton.