James Vliestra assembles and analyses all of the top Yankees prospect names to know! Today we feature ranks #5-1!
Spencer Jones (oF):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 21.8 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'7" & 225 Pounds
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2022 MLB First Year Player Draft for $2.9M
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2025
2022 Review:
Jones was the Yankees first round pick in 2022. Upon signing, he played exclusively in center, mostly in Tampa. His V-Rating was an impressive .972 and his OPS was .962.
2023 Preview:
After several years of lacking a big left handed hitter, the Yankees now have a couple ready to take aim at the short porch. Jones has drawn lofty comparisons to another large Yankees outfielder that currently man's right field. Jones was drafted out of Vanderbilt, giving him a pedigree that wouldn't surprise many to move quickly through the system. He will likely resume where he left off in Tampa to start, but could quickly breeze through there and even Hudson Valley finishing in Somerset and in the same position as Dominguez is this year.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
He's in position to be the Yankees top prospect and potentially a top 20 overall once the top tier graduates to the Majors.
Austin Wells (C):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 23.7 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'2" & 220 Pounds
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2020 MLB First Year Player Draft for $2.5M
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2023
2022 Review:
After a brief start in Tampa, Wells destroyed High-A pitching at Hudson Valley. He continued his hot hitting at Somerset. On the season, his OPS was .897, slightly higher than his minor league career of .881. His V-Rating was .879 powered by his 20 homers and 16 stolen bases. Contrary to popular opinion since becoming a professional, he has yet to play a position other than catcher. So as of now, neither Wells nor the Yankees consider him anything but a catcher.
2023 Preview:
Wells was invited to MLB spring training as a non roster invitee, giving him a chance to catch the big league staff. Wells has a beautiful left handed swing, that is taylor-made for Yankees Stadium. He already has spent 55 games in Somerset. He'll likely start the year there again as he continues to refine his defensive skills. Many scouts have determined his defensive prowess has improved by leaps and bounds due to his hard work and determination. The one thing that neither Trevino nor Higashioka offers is high offensive upside. Wells certainly does. Would I be surprised if Cashman thinks the team needs a mid season jolt and summons Wells? Not one bit.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Just based on his ability in the batters box, he's a borderline top 100 prospect. If his defensive skills continue to improve he could be a top 20 prospect at the end of the season.
Oswald Peraza (SS):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 22.7 Years Old
Height/Weight: 6'0" & 200 Pounds
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2016 for $175K
Rule 5 Eligible: Currently on 40-Man Roster
2022 Review:
Pre-pandemic, Peraza was known as a defense-first player. In 2021, he burst on the scene with a .834 OPS advancing from Hudson Valley through Somerset and all the way to Scranton. Last year in Scranton, Peraza, much like several of the top prospects, started off slowly. He turned it around and from June until the end of the year he raised his season OPS to .778. He was promoted to the Yankees late in the season and played 18 games, putting up an OPS+ of 139. Pretty impressive for a player known for his glove. He definitely did not look awkward in his at bats as the Yankees were playing stressful games down the stretch trying to hold onto the division lead.
2023 Preview:
When camp opened, I considered Peraza as the front runner to win the opening day shortstop job. His already on the 40-man roster was a big reason for that, but then the Yankees surprised me. For now, Peraza will return to AAA, though he won't be there for long. The biggest problem is the Yankees log-jam of MLB infielders. The question from that is where does Peraza belong? (And does he stay?)
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
Universally he's ranked as a top 100 prospect which generally means he should make an impact in the Majors and a solid career.
Jasson Dominguez (OF):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 20.1 Years Old
Height/Weight: 5'10" & 190 Pounds
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2019 for $5.1M
Rule 5 Eligible: December, 2023
2022 Review:
Dominguez is a player who really suffered losing the key developmental year 2020 would have provided. His 2021 was so poor that he actually dropped off some top 100 lists. He started off slowly in Tampa in 2022 and some evaluators started to question his abilities. Then, in June he hit and he caught fire, was promoted to Hudson Valley where he proceeded to have a .906 OPS, which earned him a brief late season cameo at AA. On the year his V-Rating was an impressive .844, his OPS .837, he stole 37 bases and hit 16 homers.
2023 Preview:
Dominguez earned an invitation to MLB Spring Training as a Non-Roster Invitee. He's there to provide him with Major League coaching as well as introduce him to his future teammates. He will be one of the first sent to minor league camp, but the experience will benefit him down the road. I expect him to start the year in Somerset as Scranton's roster is clogged with former big leaguers serving as depth pieces that would serve as a short term replacement in case of injuries. Should he once again excel, I can envision a scenario where he is promoted to the Bronx much earlier than most people imagine. Possibly as early as July or August. Dominguez was signed with the kind of hype that's impossible to live up to but if he becomes the best Jasson Dominguez that he can be, Yankees fans will be pleasantly surprised for the next decade plus.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
The (almost) consensus 2nd best prospect in a stacked system.
Anthony Volpe (SS):
Age (As of 4/1/23): 21.9 Years Old
Height/Weight: 5'11" & 180 Pounds
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft for $2.7M
Rule 5 Eligible: Currently on the 40-Man Roster
2022 Review:
In 2021, he ran through A ball at a combined 1.027 OPS He started the season off slowly in Somerset before taking off. He earned a late season promotion to Scranton where again he started off slow. Combined on the year, he had a .711 V-Rating, .802 OPS, slugged 61 extra base hits, including 21 Homers, to go along with his 50 stolen bases. He had all five tools on display.
2023 Preview:
He entered Spring Training as a non roster invitee, and blew expectations out of the water while competing for the opening day shortstop job. At first I believed he would be kept down in favor of service time manipulation and lack of space on the 40-Man, but he (and the Yankees) surprised me. Now that's he's on his way to the big leagues, I cannot see any future than the one that he is here to stay. Volpe is expected to be a cornerstone piece of the Yankees next dynasty.
2023 Preseason Cross-Publication Prospect Rankings:
Analysis of Rankings:
The consensus best prospect in a stacked system.
