Yankees' Harrison Cohen, a Long Island native, takes a good first step

TAMPA, Fla. — Past pitchers in Harrison Cohen’s situation in Yankees spring training have talked about putting yourself in position to be in position.

Cohen, a Syosset native and product of Cold Spring Harbor High School, is a non-roster invitee to big-league camp for the first time in his professional career.

The 26-year-old righthander, an undrafted free agent in 2022 whose standing in the organization rose significantly last year with a standout season in the minors, is highly unlikely to break camp with the Yankees.

But a good spring training, combined with additional effective innings in the minor leagues, could put him in a favorable position for a call-up to the majors when the inevitable attrition occurs in the bullpen, whether it be injuries and/or poor performance.

Cohen’s spring training got off to a good start in that regard Saturday against the Tigers. In the sixth inning, he allowed one hit but nothing else in a scoreless frame.

“I don’t know so much about thinking that much in advance, but getting out there for a first one, being up to put up a zero and be able to use the defense a little bit, watch my guys work back there and be quick and efficient, that’s kind of what the goal is,” said Cohen, who threw 10 pitches (nine strikes). “Was really happy with the execution today.”

After Cohen got former Yankee Gleyber Torres to fly to center, Hao-Yu Lee reached on an infield single. Cohen then got Jake Rogers to ground into a 6-4 forceout  and retired pinch hitter Josue Briceno on a fly to center.

The 6-foot, 211-pound Cohen, who will depart camp on March 1 to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, went 3-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 49 games for Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2025. Cohen, who posted a 1.57 ERA in 29 Triple-A games, has an arsenal featuring a mid-90s fastball, a slider that continues to be a work in progress and a changeup that rival scouts often compliment. Those evaluators generally comment on Cohen’s command and “pitchability,” the latter a word typically used to describe non-power pitchers.

“Was happy with the command of everything, with the secondaries,” Cohen said. “Felt like I induced some weak contact and did my job the best I could and had some great plays behind me.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.