James Vliestra assembles and analyses all of the top Yankees prospect names to know! Today we feature ranks #30-26!
Estevan Florial (CF):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 25.3 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'1" & 195 Pounds
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2015 for $200K
Rule 5 Eligible: On the Current 40-Man Roster (& Is Out of Options)
2022 Review:
Florial burst onto the scene in 2017 with a .850 OPS and some very loud skills. He was a five tool athlete that was dreamed about by coaches and fans alike. However a penchant for striking out and a couple of injuries curtailed his once promising career. He once again put together a .850 OPS season for Scranton last year but in 35 big league plate appearances his OPS was a futile .297.
2023 Preview:
He enters 2023 out of minor league options. This means in order for him to continue his career with the Yankees he needs to perform in spring training and earn a spot on the active 26 man roster and hold onto it all season. The only way that happens is an injury, a trade, or if Oswaldo Cabrera is optioned down. I was one of those dreamers, however his best opportunity looks like it's going to be with a different team.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Prospect Fatigue. That's the best way to describe him. If he was two years younger, coming off that season he'd be a top 10 across the board.
Matt Sauer (RHP):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 24.1 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'4" & 195 Pounds
Acquired: Drafted in the 2nd Round of the 2017 MLB First Year Player Draft for $2.5M
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2023
2022 Review:
Between Hudson Valley and Somerset Sauer pitched 109 innings. He tallied a 1.275 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, and 11.1 K/9. His season was highlighted with a 17 strikeout performance on August 27 for the Patriots.
2023 Preview:
Sauer will begin the year in Somerset. Sauer got the biggest bonus in that 2017 draft (he got more than first round pick Clarke Schmidt because Schmidt had just undergone Tommy John surgery). Now, it's time for that investment to start paying off.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Matt Sauer is a volatile prospect who has some people who love him (he goes as high as #7, #12, and #16) while there are others who don't even consider him at all (like MLB, Fangraphs, & Baseball America).
Andres Chaparro (3B):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 23.9 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'1" & 200 Pounds
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2016 for $215K
Rule 5 Eligible: Becomes a Minor League Free Agent in November, 2023
2022 Review:
Chaparro only played 71 games last year while dealing with injuries. He was primarily the Somerset third baseman. He hit 20 home runs with a slash line of .296/.370/.592/.962.
2023 Preview:
His tremendous ability with the bat in his hand has earned him an invitation to camp as a non roster invitee. There currently is a major logjam of Yankees infielders in his way as he pushes for his chance. Whether due to injury or trade I expect to see him earn his opportunity to the show. In the meantime I think he'll wrestle playing time away from the veterans in Scranton.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
This is Chaparro's seventh year in the organization, which (like Florial) has led to some fatigue. Some evaluators don't view him as a prospect anymore while others still have him as a top 15-20. It's a common thread with players in his bracket: some people are very high on them, others aren't even talking about them.
Enmanuel Tejeda (SS):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 18.2 Years Old
Height/Weight: 5'11" & 160 Pounds
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2022 for $40K
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2026
2022 Review:
Tejeda was almost a year younger than his competition in the DSL last year, but he managed a OPS of .956 in 46 games.
2023 Preview:
He should be stateside playing in the FCL this summer. He just needs to keep doing what he has done.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Tejeda is mostly an unknown as of now, but that hasn't stopped some evaluators from dreaming big on him. Heck, we're playing it a little safe because there's so little about him out there to evaluate on.
Justin Lange (RHP):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 21.5 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'4" & 220 Pounds
Acquired: Acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres for Luke Voit
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2024
2022 Review:
The Padres drafted the high school phenom in the 1st Round of the shortened 2020 MLB draft for $2 Million. The Yankees then got him as part of the Luke Voit trade. He started 2022 at extended spring training before throwing 36.1 innings in the FCL. He struck out 12.6 batters per 9. However he also walked 7.4/9 which led to an inflated ERA and WHIP.
2023 Preview:
Once again he will be working on harnessing his control at extended spring training. He will probably pitch around 60-70 innings in Tampa with a hope for a late season promotion to Hudson Valley.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Though he was a serious prospect while in the Padres system, Lange has been largely forgotten by the Yankees list makers. They will remember him, however, if he can cut his walk rate in half.
