The New York Yankees claimed INF Jeter Downs off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
Downs, 25, appeared in six games with Washington in 2023, hitting .400 (2-for-5) with 4R, 1RBI, 4BB and 2SB. Additionally, he batted .222 (40-for-180) with 32R, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 20RBI, 37BB and 11SB in 60 combined games this year with Triple-A Rochester, the FCL Nationals and High-A Wilmington. Over parts of two Major League seasons (2022-23) with the Boston Red Sox (2022) and Nationals (2023), the right-handed batter has hit .182 (8-for-44) with 8R, 1 double, 1HR, 5RBI, 5BB and 2SB in 20 career games. He has appeared defensively in his career at second base (10 games/seven starts), shortstop (seven games/two starts) and third base (six games/three starts).
The San Andrés, Colombia, native was originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in Competitive Balance Round A (32nd overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers along with RHP Homer Bailey and RHP Josiah Gray in exchange for OF Yasiel Puig, OF Matt Kemp, LHP Alex Wood, C Kyle Farmer and cash considerations on December 21, 2018. Downs was then acquired by Boston along with OF Alex Verdugo and C Connor Wong in exchange for OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price and cash considerations on Feb. 10, 2020. He was claimed off waivers by Washington on Dec. 22, 2022.