Organizational Talent Rankings via Baseball America
2013 (11) | 2012 (6) | 2011 (5) | 2010 (22) | 2009 (15)
2013 Affiliate Records
MLB: [85-77] AL East
AAA: [68-76] International League – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
AA: [74-67] Eastern League – Trenton
A+: [58-78] Florida State League – Tampa
A: [75-63] South Atlantic League – Charleston
A(ss): [34-41] New York-Penn League — Staten Island
Graduated Prospects
David Adams (INF); Austsin Romine (C); Adam Warren (RHP); Preston Claiborne (RHP)
The Run Down
With a big league roster that’s seemingly always loaded with big money assets at every position, the Yankees don’t have a lot of room for homegrown prospects to arrive and make impacts, and it’s important to keep that in mind when scouring this farm system for future fantasy pieces. Not to suggest that there isn’t value to be had here — prospects like Gary Sanchez and Eric Jagielo are must-owns in dynasty leagues — but historically, the Yankees are more inclined to address needs through spending on the free agent market, rather than exploring the cost-controlled options from their farm. It’s a baseball ops model that’s worked out well for New York over the past 15 years — there’s no arguing that. In 2014, though, the Yankees look frighteningly old and in desperate need of some youth in their lineup.
Top Ten Fantasy Prospects
1. Masahiro Tanaka, RHP: The headliner of my top 25 for 2014 post, here’s what I had to say: “Tanaka isn’t exactly a prospect in the purest sense, but technically speaking, he’s rookie-eligible, and that’s the only criteria for making this list. Grey wrote a post on Tanaka shortly after the Yankees inked him, and then ranked him #31 in his preseason SP rankings. I’m on the same page as Grey regarding the 25-year-old Japanese import’s 2014 outlook — the stuff is advanced and he commands his arsenal well, but there’s an aura of uncertainty here that leaves me uncomfortable with paying his hype-inflated price in drafts. That said, every name that follows on this list comes with its own special brand of uncertainty. Tanaka’s projected fantasy value figures to carry the least risk among 2014 rookies.” ETA: 2014
2. Gary Sanchez, C: Through 117 games between High-A and Double-A in 2013, Sanchez posted a line at .253/.324/.412 with 15 homers. The 21-year-old has long been touted for his offensive skill set — most notably his power potential — but with concerns popping up regarding his receiving skills, it’s fair to wonder if his long-term role is as at catcher or first base. That sort of positional shift would severely negate Sanchez’s potential fantasy impact, so let’s hope he gets his shizz together behind the dish. ETA: 2015
3. Eric Jagielo, 3B: Drafted 26th overall last June, Jagielo brings an advanced hit tool and plus power potential to the Yankees, and considering the uncertainty around Sanchez’s future role, he might be the safest bat in this org from a fantasy perspective. The 21-year-old will make his full-season debut in 2014, where he’s a prime candidate to post exciting numbers and force his way through the lower levels quickly. ETA: 2016
4. Tyler Austin, OF: After a huge 2012, Austin’s development slowed somewhat in 2013 as he battled injury, batting .257/.344/.373 in just 83 games at Double-A Trenton. The 22-year-old still features a plus hit tool and enough pop to knock 20 homers, but he’ll need to stay on the field in 2014 if he’d like to see his prospect status return to where it was a year ago. ETA: Late 2014
5. Aaron Judge, OF: Six picks after drafting Jagielo, the Yankees took Aaron Judge, a 6-foot-7 beast of a 21-year-old out of Cal State. Injury kept Judge from debuting as a pro in 2013, so there’s a lot to be determined on the field, but the consensus among talent evaluators is that this is a prospect with limitless power potential and surprisingly good athleticism given his size. I’m thinking the Yankees will give him a Low-A assignment this spring, and I can’t wait to see him take the field in Charleston. ETA: 2016
6. Mason Williams, OF: Williams is a toolshed, but his impressive skill set is yet to translate into measurable success on the stat sheet. The road to fantasy relevance might be a long one for the 22-year-old, but don’t be surprised if he blossoms into an extremely useful fantasy piece a handful of years after his big league arrival — think Carlos Gomez. ETA: 2015
7. Jose Ramirez, RHP: Ramirez features the best pure stuff in this Yankees system, but staying healthy has been a struggle for him, and that has folks concerned that his eventual role will be in the bullpen. The fasball/slider/changeup arsenal certainly reflects a starter’s repertoire, and there’s potential here to rack up whiffs, but the 24-year-old needs to prove he can hold up as a starter if he’s going to max out his fantasy potential. ETA: 2014
8. Slade Heathcott, OF: Heathcott is a toolsy outfield prospect with impact potential in the stolen bases department, but to this point, the 23-year-old hasn’t shown a whole lot of promise in the other categories. Because of his plus defensive profile, you’ll find him ranked higher on lists that aren’t fantasy-specific — don’t let that fool you into reaching for him in dynasty formats. ETA: Late 2014
9. Gosuke Katoh, 2B: He’s yet to play above the instructional level, so there’s a long way to go with Katoh, but early reports on the 2013 2nd rounder are hugely encouraging. The 19-year-old brings a promising combination of speed and pop to the middle infield, making the fantasy upside quite clear. Katoh will make his full-season debut in 2014, and we’ll have a much better gauge as to his potential fantasy impact once his first year of A-ball is in the books. ETA: 2017
10. Rafael De Paula, RHP: De Paula exploded onto the prospect scene early last season thanks to some silly strikeout totals at Low-A Charleston to begin the season (96 SO in 64 IP). His fastball is an elite-level pitch, hence the enormous whiff production, but commanding that offering has proven to be a struggle for the 22-year-old, not to mention that the secondary stuff is wildly inconsistent. If De Paula can learn to harness his stuff, there’s significant upside here as a starter, but being that he’ll turn 23 next month and he’s yet to play above class-A, it seems likely that the Yankees will shift him to a bullpen role to facilitate a faster rise toward the bigs. ETA: 2015
For a retrospective look at the Yankees farm, peep their 2013 MiLB preview.
