Reviewing the Yankees' Top Prospects (Part 3)
- James Vlietstra
- Jun 23
- 5 min read
Reviewing the Yankees' Top Prospects (Part 3)
by James Vlietstra
June 23, 2025
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Thank you for joining us once again as we conclude our mid-season review of the Yankees top 30 prospects.
Without any further delay, here’s number 21…
21. Eric Reyzelman. He was the Yankees 5th round pick in 2022. Last year, the RHP advanced from the Complex League all the way to Somerset, where he was viewed as MLB ready. He turns 24 this week and is Rule 5 eligible this offseason. This year he has regressed and had lost control. He has walked 29 batters in 26.1 innings which is 10/9 innings. That needs to drastically improve.
22. Trystan Vrieling. He was the Yankees 3rd round pick in the 2022 draft. The 24 year old RHP will be Rule 5 eligible. On the season, he has 25 innings pitched. His ERA is 4.68, WHIP is 1.560, and K/W rate is 1.83. He needs to start pitching much better at AA if he wants to remain on any prospect lists.
23. Thatcher Hurd. The Yankees 3rd round pick in 2024. The 22 year old RHP had TJS in February and will probably make his debut in the Complex League next spring.
24. Roc Riggio. The Yankees 11th round pick in 2021. The 23 year old second baseman is Rule 5 eligible. He got a late start to the season but is now healthy and raking. He’s hitting .270/.390/.639 across three levels, including Somerset, where he currently resides. He could be entering spring training with a shot at making the roster. He could also be used as a trade chip.
25. Griffin Herring. The Yankees selected him in the 6th round of the 2024 amateur draft. The 22 year old LHP has dominated at Lo-A Tampa and Hi-A Hudson Valley. Combined he has a 1.19 ERA, 0.932 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, and 3.43 K/W rate and is probably going to get promoted again soon. He should find himself in the top 5-6 prospects in the organization once the lists update.
26. Brando Mayea. The Yankees signed Mayea to an IFA contract of $4.35M in 2023. The 19 year old centerfielder is currently on the FCL 7-day IL. Through his first 20g games this season, his slash line was.297/.373/.500 for a .873 OPS, a huge improvement over the .696 he had at the same level last season.
27. Francisco Vilorio. The Yankees top IFA in 2024, received a bonus of $1.75M. The 18 year old center fielder has only played nine games so far in the DSL. So far he’s really cut down on his strike outs while walking a lot more. Those are two great signs as he prepares to come stateside.
28. Greysen Carter. The Yankees 5th round pick in 2024. The 22 year old RHP has had a rough start to his professional career. Through his first 38.1 Innings, he has a 6.57 ERA, 2.087 WHIP, and 11.7 BB/9. Hopefully he’s able to throw more strikes and can turn his season around in Tampa.
29. Brendan Jones. The Yankees 12th round pick in 2024. The 23 year old center fielder was promoted from Hudson Valley to Somerset. He has gotten off to a slow start there with an OPS of just .510 through 11 games. AA has a reputation of being the most difficult hurdle, let’s see if he can overcome it.
30. Jesus Rodriguez. The Yankees signed him to an IFA contract for $10,000 in 2018. Predominantly a catcher and third baseman, he also has experience at first and second base and all three outfield positions. He already is on the 40-man roster and is playing in AAA, where he’s tearing it up to the tune of .358/.442/.458. If there’s another infield injury, he could move right into the everyday lineup.
That concludes the Yankees top 30 prospects, however I have included another dozen players listed in no particular order
Brennan Davis. Was the Cubs 2nd round pick in 2018 and rose to Baseball America’s number 16 prospect in 2022. The Yankees signed him as a minor league free agent over the winter. Still only 25, the outfielder has a 1.187 OPS in Scranton. There’s a good chance that if he isn’t traded at the deadline, the Yankees will add him to the 40-man before he can declare free agency after the season and they lose him for nothing.
Gabriel Lara. He was part of the 2023 IFA class. The 19 year old outfielder is coming off a disappointing 2024 when he only had a OPS of .572 in the DSL. Currently, through 19 games, he has an OPS of 1.018. Speed is his greatest weapon , but he’s been caught stealing 4/7 times. They need to let him be aggressive and hopefully he learns the craft.
Parks Harber. The Yankees signed him as an UDFA after the 2024 draft. The 23 year old corner infielder was promoted from Tampa to Hudson Valley and has an impressive combined OPS of .914.
TJ Rumfield. The Phillies drafted Rumfield in the 12th round of the 2021 draft. He was part of the return in the Donny Sands/ Nick Nelson trade. The 25 year old first baseman has a .870 OPS in Scranton. Could be an option if Paul Goldschmidt is injured or as part of a trade package at the deadline.
Dylan Jasso. The Yankees signed him as an UDFA in 2023. The 22 year old utility infielder has an OPS of .824 for Somerset.
Dillon Lewis. The Yankees drafted the outfielder in the 13th round of the 2024 draft. He was promoted to Hudson Valley after producing a .800 OPS in Tampa.
Bryce Warrecker. The Yankees selected the RHP in the 20th round of the 2023 draft. The 23 year old is dominating Hi-A Hudson Valley with a 0.98 ERA, 0.651 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, 11.1 K/9, and 5.67 K/W. Expect him to be promoted soon and finding him on prospect lists.
Brendan Beck. The Yankees selected Beck in the second round of the 2021 draft and he was expected to move quickly. Instead, he accumulated only 34 innings from 2022-24. Now healthy, the 26 year old is dominating in Somerset. He has a 1.82 ERA, 0.920 WHIP, and 4.33 K/W rate through 54.1 innings. The Yankees need to figure out what they have and whether they protect him from the rule 5 draft or trade him at the deadline. Easily one of their top 10-12 prospects at the moment.
Mariano Salomon. The Yankees signed Salomon late in the 2022 signing period. He is on the older side as he will be turning 23 in August. The RHP is excelling in the FCL with a 2.45 ERA, 0.773 WHIP, and 4.33 K/W rate through 22 innings. I think he will be promoted to Tampa very soon.
Harrison Cohen. The Yankees signed Cohen as an UDFA in 2022. The 26 year old RHP is Rule 5 eligible this season. He recently was promoted from Somerset to Scranton. Combined he has a 1.80 ERA and 11.9 K/9.
Josh Grosz. The Yankees 11th round pick in 2023. The 22 year old RHP has 18 starts in HV over the past two seasons. This year, he has 60.1 innings pitched, with a WHIP of 1.044 and 3.09 K/W rate. He should be getting promoted soon.
Michael Arias. The Yankees purchased Arias from the Cubs during the offseason. The 23 year old RHP is on the 40-man roster. He is currently injured and has yet to throw a pitch for the organization.
I agree they generally take way too long to develop their prospects. Even college graduates take 4-5 years to advance through the system.
Meanwhile other teams have 20-22 year old phenoms competing for a real shot at a job.
Granted the Yankees typically only have two or three positions open each season and their impatient fan base hates to see growing pains.
Is there really any of the guys in the rotation for Hudson Valley who you can claim that don't deserve a promotion? Too bad, not space for everyone there at the moment, with Selvidge back, and Shields very close.
As for Vreiling. Another guy who was hurt in the Spring, but he doesn't look completely healthy.
There are a bunch of relievers in A ball that should be promoted, or getting close to it (Hermann, Morrill, Warracker, Rossi, just to name the ones on the top of my head). Sometimes running guys with stuff through the system like Ryzelmam, eventually hit a speed bump, and just have to pitch, and no one should be concerned about a guy being ready…