The New York Yankees’ farm system has long produced versatile infielders who bounce around the majors, and one of its late-round products is back on the open market.
Oliver Dunn, the University of Utah product selected by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2019 draft, has elected minor-league free agency after being outrighted by the Tampa Bay Rays.
For a club that has repeatedly valued left-handed infield depth and utility options, Dunn’s return to the free-agent pool offers a familiar name with a limited major-league track record.
Dunn spent his first four professional seasons in the Yankees organization, appearing with the Pulaski Yankees, Charleston RiverDogs, Hudson Valley Renegades, Somerset Patriots, and briefly the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
The 2020 season was lost to the pandemic, and injuries limited him in 2022. After the 2022 campaign he was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
He thrived in Double-A with Reading in 2023 (.271/.396/.506 with 21 home runs), then was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, who added him to their 40-man roster.
Dunn made his MLB debut with Milwaukee on Opening Day 2024 and appeared in 41 games that year before a back injury. He returned for a shorter look in 2025 before being outrighted.
Across parts of three seasons he owns a career line of .197/.253/.275 over 157 plate appearances, with one home run, 14 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
He has shown the ability to play multiple infield spots and has some baserunning value, traits that have kept him on the fringe of major-league rosters.
This past winter Dunn signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox. After a strong start at Triple-A Charlotte (.295/.393/.545 in 41 games), he was traded to the Rays in May for left-hander Joe Rock.
Tampa Bay purchased his contract the next day to cover for an injury and used him mostly as a late-game defensive or pinch-running option. In nine games he went 1-for-11.
Optioned back to Triple-A, he was later designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and was outrighted in early September. He elected free agency on October 29.
Dunn is now out of minor-league options, which complicates any team’s ability to shuttle him between levels.
For the Yankees, who drafted him and developed him through Double-A, the 29-year-old represents low-cost organizational depth rather than a projected contributor.
He can cover the infield, has produced at Triple-A at times, and brings the left-handed bat that managers often seek off the bench.
Whether New York or another club offers him a minor-league contract this winter remains to be seen, but the path that began with a late-round Yankees selection continues into free agency once more.
