DUNEDIN, Fla. — Damon Oppenheimer, the vice president of amateur scouting for the Yankees, strolled through the team’s clubhouse in Tampa on Thursday, hours before James Kaprielian — one of his former first-round picks — was about to make his Grapefruit League debut after coming back from a strained flexor tendon that cost him most of 2016.
But instead of taking the short drive to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium to see his former prize face the Blue Jays, Oppenheimer was on his way to try to find the next one.
And he had little doubt the 16th overall pick from 2015 would respond in his first — and it turns out, only — major league appearance of the spring.