Over the past 31 days, I set about giving a detailed and statistical account of about each of the current MLB Pipeline Top 30 Yankees prospects. Their journeys to and through the Yankees system have all been interesting and unique, as each post was derived from hours of reading reports, going through databases, and watching prospect tapes/videos, all of which helped me to learn about these players and allowed me to develop my own internal standards and projections for their careers.
Today as a recap you can find the whole Top 30 Prospects list along with their position, MLB ETA, a link to each detailed article, and each individual players entry descriptions.
“An outfielder from the Dominican Republic, nicknamed “The Martian”, who may just be the best all-around player that the Yankees have had in their organization since the likes of Mickey Mantle. While that’s not necessarily my take on the current 17-year-old, that has been said by professional MLB scouts in reference to the future that he holds. Some say all his 5 tools are comfortably above-average, so it isn’t any wonder that it took $5,100,000 to ink him to develop as a New York Yankee. While he has yet to play any professional baseball, Dominguez is a consensus Top-100 prospect across the MLB and one of the best in the Yankee system. Am I excited about him? Of course! This is a once-in-a-generation international talent that the Yankees have in their system. It’ll be a long road for him to make the MLB, but it’s going to be an incredible journey to watch him develop into a superstar someday.” MLB ETA: 2024Embed from Getty Images
“The ace starter at South Carolina his sophomore year of college, Clarke Schmidt was continuing to show more and more dominance his junior year before throwing out his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery, which many thought would ruin his draft capital. The Yankees instead saw a chance to get a stud for cheap (and save money for other rounds), using the 16th overall pick to grab Schmidt in the 2017 MLB draft. Pitching mainly in the rookie leagues in 2018 as part of rehab, Schmidt took it to another level in 2019 making it with the Trenton Thunder and a 2020 Spring Training invite. Some say he may break into the MLB to start the 2020 season, but even if that doesn’t happen he is a solid choice to become a #2 or #3 starter for the Yankees soon.” MLB ETA: 2020Embed from Getty Images
“Signed in 2015 out of the Dominican Republic along with Luis Medina, Deivi Garcia was seen as a project piece because of his size, even though he showed great spin rates and movement on his pitches. Garcia quickly made people consider him a legitimate prospect however, after just one amazing season in rookie ball in 2016. From there, Garcia has continued jump up the minor league levels, moving up three levels at a time for each of the past three seasons. He has tremendous put-away stuff and gets a lot of strikeouts, but has been prone to allowing a lot of fly balls. His future as a starter is under some question because of his effortful delivery and lack of going far into games in 2019, but his ceiling still obtainable and comes as a mid-to-high rotation piece with a floor as a high-leverage reliever. Maybe 2020 also comes his MLB debut, we’ll have to wait to see.” MLB ETA: 2020Embed from Getty Images
“Drafted out of Venezuela in 2016, Peraza has been one of the prospects that the Yankees have been most aggressive with moving through their system, jumping up to Class A ball as a 19 year-old last season. His quick moves through the rookie levels does show that he has great fundamentals as part of his game, and he did show his best hitting season in 2019 since he debut against competition he was able to destroy in his professional debut. Even with low power, his all-fields hitting approach, along with plus speed, and great defense help him have lead to some projections as a borderline all-star shortstop. It seems a bit early to me to be this high on him, as he seems to fit better in the low-single digits, but I hope he proves me wrong.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“Signed as an IFA by the Minnesota Twins late in the 2014/15 signing period, a shoulder injury in 2016 kept him in the DSL until 2017. Going into the 2018 season, the Yankees acquired him for a DFA’ed outfielder in Jake Cave and quickly set about turning him into a legitimate prospect. He quickly added velocity to his fastball, which now sits in the high-90s and tops 100 MPH. With two other pitches that need work in refining with a slider and changeup, his future is going to either be as a mid-rotation piece or as a great high-leverage reliever/closer. He is ranked a little high for my preference, but I can see why scouts see his promise.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“Estevan Florial has been known by different names, different birth dates, and different countries of origin, all of which probably helped him get signed even if it meant that he lost out on a huge bonus. Coming out of Haiti, it isn’t a popular baseball location for scouts and he very well could have been missed. Since his signing, Florial has proved that he is a top prospect, even making it as high as #50 in the MLB and #1 in the Yankees system, but is starting to fall quickly from those pillars of future greatness. An overaggressive approach at the plate has lead to a very high yearly K% that hovers above 25% and a poor eye for recognizing pitches has kept his BB% low and limited his hard contact. As a baserunner he also needs a lot of work to reach 30-30 potential, but luckily he is showing a future as a solid defender in center field. Prospect fatigue is starting to wear in as he has been with the Tampa Tarpons for parts of 4 seasons now, and he’ll have to prove it with the Trenton Thunder in 2020 to prevent falling even farther.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“After signing for only $14,000 out of the Domincan Republic as part of the Yankees the 2015/16 IFA Class, Vizcaino was much older than most of the other talent available and because of that not as highly regarded. While he spent three seasons from 2016-2018 in Rookie ball working on his game, in 2019 Vizcaino developed into a true prospect as he added velocity to his fastball to sit in the mid- to high-90s (topping out at 100 MPH) as well as a truly great curveball. Questions on if he can develop a third pitch are closely tied with his future as a three-pitch, mid-rotation starter or a two-pitch, high-leverage reliever.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“Signed out of Venezuela during the 2016 IFA signing period for only $50,000, Yoendrys Gomez had shown signs of promise but was going to be a long-term project. Luckily, the Yankees decided to take that chance to see what he has. After two years in professional ball between the DSL and GCL Gomez had already added 5 MPH to his fastball while also showing great fundamentals with his command across three very different pitches. He made it up to Class A in 2019, ahead of his prospect schedule, and could look move fast up the remaining levels now that he has a more solidified MLB projection and expectation to where he could be if he makes it to the top level. He won’t be a #1 or #2, but his future looks to be consistent and good.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: @yoendrys_gomez / Instagram)
“A lifelong Yankees fan and New Jersey product out of Delbarton High School, Anthony Volpe was the Yankees 2019 first round draft pick where he signed to play ball with a $2.74 million bonus. Starting the season with the Pulaski Yankees, Volpe was sent home early after testing positive for mononucleosis which played a factor in some unexciting first season stats. With great overall tools for both sides of the game at bat and in the field, Volpe is a very promising prospect to bet on. Expected to start the season with the Charleston RiverDogs, the 18 year-old is already showing why he was worthy of a first round pick.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: David Gravely / Southwest Times Photo)
“A flamethrowing pitching prospect who was already throwing the in triple-digits as a 16 year-old and before signing as an International talent, Medina has some of the best pure stuff on his pitches in the system. However, he lacks the command and control that you’d like to see with a pitcher of his potential if you’re hoping on his frontline starter future. However, because of this lack of control, he does has a career ERA above 5.50, which is not promising and points towards his never cracking into the top level of baseball. Truly a lottery arm to bet on, it’s nearly impossible to project what he’ll do in 2020.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: @medinaluis03 / Instagram)
“Signed by the Houston Astros in 2014, Abreu came to the Yankees as part of a package for Brian McCann. He showed top of the rotation talent with an incredible fastball, but his luck turned for the worst when injuries and even an emergency appendectomy have limited him to just 222.2 innings in three years. This has resulted in lack of development and a need for lots of improvements, most importantly to his command and control if he wants to be a starter. If not, a quick move to the bullpen could help him reach his MLB dreams.” MLB ETA: 2020Embed from Getty Images
“Drafted in one of the Yankees best most recent IFA classes with locking up top talent (4 of the Top-15 players), Kevin Alcantara has so far been the best of the bunch. Making his professional debut in 2019 in the DSL, the outfielder quickly moved on to became the only minor league in any US-based league at 16-years-old that season. Signed as a potential Center Fielder, it is up-in-the-air where he’ll fit best in the outfield, but regardless of his position his bat should still play well as he already produces great exit velocity around an imperfect swing. Alcantara has an incredibly high ceiling and low floor, so expect lots of movement of him in the future of prospect rankings, but he is a good player to dream on given his grand potential.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: 2019 Prospects / MLB Pipeline)
“As an International free agent, Pereira was seen as a obvious candidate to become an MLB center fielder, with scouts all but guaranteeing it would happen for him in the future. After signing with the Yankees they took those reports and went aggressive with how they’ve handled the Venezuelan outfielder. Starting out his professional career in the Appalachian league as a 17-year-old, he held his own and earned a promotion to the New York/Penn League for 2019. Injuries kept him from many games, but his toolset still shines high as a future player, as he continues to improve his strength, power, and arm strength along with great running and fielding tools.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Walt Hilsenbeck / YouTube)
“The Yankees signed Miguel Yajure for just $30,000 as par of the $34 Million 2014-15 international signing period, yet nobody was talking about the right-handed pitcher. He started his career quick in 2015 and showed great promise before Tommy John Surgery ended his 2016 season and kept him out of 2017. Yajure has quickly moved and performed well at every level before and after TJS, including a brief stint with the Trenton Thunder last season. He projects to be a back-end rotation piece as early as 2021 and has some of the best command in the Yankees farm system.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“After being a storyline due to his switch-hitting and switch-pitching, the Yankees did reach a little bit drafting Seigler as the 2nd catcher in the 2018 MLB Draft. Since then the Yankees have been able to see his very highly rated defensive abilities, but in very short stints. Dealing with a variety of issues in his first two years of professional ball has kept the backstop to only 54 games, and his offense definitely needs to improve from a 2019 showing at a .534 OPS. He’s a prospect in decline, but with better health Seigler should be able to save his future as an MLB backstop, although that is looking more and more as a BUC.” MLB ETA: 2022Embed from Getty Images
“Drafted in 2016, Nelson has been in the Yankees minor leagues for quite a while after being drafted as a player to take a risk on and to save slot money with to sign other talents. After having a history of losing games in his first two seasons, even with good pitching, he started to fix that narrative in 2018 and boost his prospect ranking quickly. Being ranked as high as 11th in 2019, Nelson at this point can break into the MLB soon as a powerful reliever, or spend more time to refine his pitching to stick around as a starter. It truly depends on how the Yankees would look to handle him in this season and next.” MLB ETA: 2020Embed from Getty Images
“The first left-handed pitcher to be revealed so far, TJ Sikkema was drafted this past year out of Missouri, where he led the SEC in ERA (1.32) and was 3rd amongst all Division I pitchers. Drafted in the supplemental 1st Round (38th) by the Yankees, Sikkema was seen as an underrated prospect, ranking 57th. While he only played 10.2 professional innings in 2019 this was most likely for him to work on his mechanics as he has an awkward delivery, yet his future of being a potential back-end rotation piece still looks solid. At worst, he’s expected to make the MLB as a solid relief arm.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Pinstriped Prospects / YouTube)
“Originally drafted in 2016 by the Detroit Tigers, Josh Smith opted to play with a different Tigers at Louisiana. State where he came close to winning the College World Series as a freshman. After an injured sophomore year, in his junior year Smith lead his team at LSU in AVG, OBP, and SLG before the New York Yankees drafted him in the 2nd Round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Playing with the Staten Island Yankees less than two weeks after signing, Smith continued to show consistency at the plate, again hitting over .300 while showing good defense at shortstop. There are questions about where he fits best on defense, but his bat can play at either 2B or SS.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Pinstriped Prospects / YouTube)
“Signed in 2016, Roansy Contreras has made very quick promotions look easy before spending a whole year with the Charleston RiverDogs in 2019. As the only rookie pitcher to qualify by innings, Contreras led the league in wins with 12 alongside a 3.33 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, showing advanced baseball IQ and abilities at a very young age considering his opponents. A three-pitch starter, some scouts question his ability to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground, but with more command and refining, Contreras should stick around in the rotation.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Robert M. Pimpsner / Pinstriped Prospects)
“A top defender coming out of Cuba in 2018, Alexander Vargas has been used to playing against older competition, standing out as a 15-year-old in a U-18 league in Cuba before defecting. The New York Yankees signed him for a cool $2.5 million bonus in 2018, and in 2019 Vargas began his professional career. He shows more promise than he has shown in his limited playing time on offense and projects to be a consistent hitter even if lacking power. His defense is one of the best in the system given his quick hands, feet, and plus arm strength which increases his ability to make plays that others can’t.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: Jesse Sanchez / Twitter)
“Drafted as a catcher, Canaan Smith was unranked by most publications going into his first eligible draft. That didn’t bother the Yankees as they drafted him in the 4th round and offered him above slot value to sign and skip college. A prospect with a great eye and patience, he led the GCL in walks in his first season, but ended the year with injury and suffered with very poor performance in 2018. A bounce-back 2019 with a .307 batting average and another league-lead in walks has helped prove who is he, but another season will help solidify the deal.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Michael Wiser Photography)
“With very little game data to go through, Antonio Gomez is a very interesting prospect who has developed great defensive tools at catcher alongside a more supporting-role offensive profile. Even with only playing in 15 games in 2019 due to a triceps injury, Gomez graduated to the Gulf Coast League in his first professional season and showed why many are high on him. So far, he’s a prospect I’m personally very high on.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: antoniogomezve / Instagram)
“Coming into the 2018 Draft, Josh Breaux was seen as potentially the best JuCo player available and became part of a 1-2 punch of catchers that the Yankees selected that year. A mildly disappointing 2018 season and a 2019 season where he missed 3 months due to an elbow injury have slowly dropped his prospect value over the past two years, but his high upside that resembles current Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has helped him maintain favor from prospect evaluators. Improvements are necessary for his future, but with more playing time it could come.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Eric Jenks/Times Union)
“At one time, Stephan was the Yankees #7 overall prospect, which he earned from jumping from college to Double-A ball less than a year after signing to go professional. However, after a command and control-less season in 2019 with back injuries and a demotion, Stephan’s stock dropped rapidly. He still has a potential MLB future, but it’s looking more and more like that will be in a relief role than anything else.” MLB ETA: 2021Embed from Getty Images
“Coming to the Yankees from the Miami Marlins in 2017, the Yankees bought in with King at the perfect time after a great 2017 season. King’s breakout came in 2018 where he broke into the Yankees Top-Prospects lists, but an injury to start 2019 helped bring about a drop to his stock. He did make his MLB debut at the end of the 2019 season and is looking to play in Triple-A again this season before hoping to play well again to get a long-term shot in the big leagues.” MLB ETA: 2020Embed from Getty Images
“Starting as an unranked draft prospect to season-ending surgery in his first professional year and then making the jump to Class A, Lockridge is a Center Fielding prospect for the Yankees with tremendous speed. There is room for improvements with the outfielder, but even as early as going pro he has shown good aptitude towards using adjustments to better develop his game. Expected to stay in center field for the long-run, he could develop 20-20 potential, but does have a noticeable flaw in his poor/fringy arm which works but isn’t favorable.” MLB ETA: 2022
(Photo: Talkin’ Ball Interviews / YouTube)
“Probably the most interesting story about his making it to the Yankees and now has a legitimate prospect, Ezequiel Duran possesses great natural abilities and tools that have helped to elevate him from an afterthought to a potential major leaguer. Originally a shortstop, his arm and quick hands are better suited for second base, where his offensive game also plays much more favorably. Expect good things in 2020 from Duran.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: Pinstriped Prospects)
“An original commitment to Vanderbilt, the Yankees drafted Ryder Green with the 97th pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and were able to keep him from college ball with a $997,500 signing bonus. Since joining professional ball he has spent a year each in the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues, where he has shown a good overall game (even if the scouting grade doesn’t agree) on both offensive and defense.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: David Gravely / South West Times)
“Originally just cracking the Draft-200 in 2018 with a 191st place ranking, Frank German has seen his prospect value jump around these past few years, with getting as high as being #23 in the Yankees system after the 2019 Draft due to an quick 3 MPH increase in velocity. An injury kept him out of action for about a month in a half over the last half of the 2019 season with the Tampa Tarpons as he saw his numbers increase greatly and a lack of previously shown control. A smart pitcher, if German regains his former control, a future in a rotation is a possibility but if not a career as a reliever is to be expected.“ MLB ETA: 2021
(Photo: BeGreene90 / Flickr
“Starting last season as the Yankees #22 Overall prospect, his stock fell to #24 after the draft and he just barely cracked the Top-30 this season due to injuries keeping him to only 6 games played in 2019. Another season at Pulaski (ROK) is expected for 2020, but a move to Staten Island (Class A, Short) isn’t outside of the cards if he continues to show promise at the plate.” MLB ETA: 2023
(Photo: @a_garcia_m / Instagram)
A Few More Prospects to Look Into:
While some players I think have an obvious projection and future, I definitely haven’t agreed with some placements of the prospects, which is a big part of the fun of doing a series like this. Of note, here are some prospects I was either surprised to not see or who I think could crack the list in the near future:
(Photo: Baseball America)
(Photo: Ben Badler / Twitter)
(Photo: Pinstriped Prospects)
