The Yankees’ farm system is in a interval of transition.
A number of of their prime prospects from latest years, together with Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, graduated to the MLB stage.
Others had been included in trades, like Drew Thorpe was final winter within the Yankees’ blockbuster for Juan Soto.
Gamers like Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira, in the meantime, had been as soon as thought of amongst MLB’s prime 100 prospects however have since slipped out of most analysts’ rankings.
These are all components in why the Yankees didn’t obtain a lot illustration within the newest spherical of preseason prospect lists.
MLB Pipeline, The Athletic and Baseball America all launched their prime 100 MLB prospect rankings inside the final week, and none featured greater than two Yankee farmhands.
Jasson Domínguez got here in at No. 21 for MLB Pipeline; No. 22 for The Athletic’s Keith Legislation; and No. 28 for Baseball America.
George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ first-round decide in 2023, ranked No. 88 for Baseball America listing and No. 98 for Legislation.
No different Yankee cracked these lists.
Domínguez, too, is about to graduate from prospect standing quickly, with the Yankees hoping the 21-year-old switch-hitter can win a spot of their outfield.
Nicknamed “the Martian” for his out-of-this-world talent set, Domínguez signed with the Yankees out of the Dominican Republic for $5.1 million in 2019. Domínguez flashed throughout a short MLB call-up in September of 2023, hitting 4 residence runs in eight video games earlier than present process season-ending elbow surgical procedure.
Domínguez was productive at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre throughout an injury-plagued 2024, however he struggled on the MLB stage, hitting .179 with two residence runs and a .617 OPS in 56 at-bats.
“Domínguez’s electric bat speed and prodigious strength give him well-above-average raw power from both sides of the plate, though he has done more damage as a lefty hitter throughout his pro career,” reads MLB Pipeline’s scouting report.
“After showing a disciplined approach that bordered on passive at times in the past, he was much more aggressive in 2024, getting more pull-happy and chasing more pitches out of the zone. He’s at his best when he lets his pop come naturally.”
Lombard, in the meantime, is a 20-year-old shortstop who hit .231 with 5 residence runs and a .672 OPS throughout 110 video games with the Yankees’ Single-A and Excessive-A associates.
Regardless of that modest manufacturing, Legislation wrote that “under the hood there’s quite a bit to like” about Lombard, who handled a hamstring harm final yr.
“He did make some hard contact that didn’t show up in his stat line, topping out at 110 mph, and there is still a ton of projection on his 6-2 (or taller) frame to come into more bat speed and eventually in-game power,” Legislation wrote. “He just wasn’t ready for full-season ball.”
Like Lombard, most of the Yankees’ most intriguing prospects are usually not near the majors.
Final week, the Yankees signed 16-year-old shortstop Mani Cedeno out of the Dominican Republic for $2.5 million. Cedeno, whom MLB Pipeline ranked as its No. 11 worldwide prospect this yr, is lauded amongst scouts for his bat velocity, athleticism and upside.
In 2022, the Yankees signed one other teenage shortstop, Roderick Arias, out of the Dominican Republic for $4 million. Arias was thought of the No. 1 worldwide prospect in that yr’s class.
Now 20, Arias hit .233 with 13 residence runs, a .728 OPS and 37 stolen bases with Single-A Tampa final yr.
Lefty-swinging outfielder Spencer Jones, in the meantime, noticed his inventory take successful after an uneven 2024.
Initially a 2022 first-round decide, Jones completed final season with a .259 common, 17 homers, a .788 OPS and 25 stolen bases with Double-A Somerset. These numbers look higher, nonetheless, when contemplating Jones hit .205 with two residence runs and a .594 OPS by means of 37 video games.
“I think I grew up a lot towards the end of the season, as far as mentally, with my performance and the way things went,” Jones, 23, stated on YES Community’s “Yankees Hot Stove” this month. “Just handling the roller-coaster season that it was and growing through it, I think that I’m in a great spot now.”
Halfway by means of final season, MLB Pipeline ranked the Yankees’ farm system 18th amongst MLB groups. That was fourth within the American League East, behind the Tampa Bay Rays (No. 1), Baltimore Orioles (No. 3) and Boston Pink Sox (No. 7).
MLB Pipeline has not launched its 2025 preseason farm system rankings, however the Rays, Orioles and Pink Sox every had entries towards the highest of the person prospect listing.
The Pink Sox did notably nicely, with Legislation rating Triple-A shortstop Roman Anthony as his No. 1 prospect. MLB Pipeline ranked Anthony second, behind solely newly signed Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Boston’s Kristian Williams and Marcelo Mayer additionally made MLB Pipeline’s prime 12, whereas each cracked Legislation’s prime 28. Anthony, Williams and Mayer are all projected to make their MLB debuts this season.
Whereas the Yankees don’t boast that type of top-end depth nearing the majors, they do have a latest monitor report of homegrown success. Luis Gil received AL Rookie of the 12 months final season, whereas Wells was a finalist. Volpe received a Gold Glove in 2023.
The Yankees prioritized school pitchers in final yr’s draft, utilizing 12 of their 20 picks on gamers who match that profile. Amongst them had been their first-round decide, Alabama’s Ben Hess, and their second-rounder, Vanderbilt’s Bryce Cunningham.
MAYZA MOVES ON
Tim Mayza‘s Yankees tenure has come to an finish.
The left-handed reliever reached a one-year, $1.15 million take care of the Pittsburgh Pirates, based on MLB.com.
A seven-year MLB veteran, Mayza signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees final July after being launched by the Blue Jays. He pitched to a 4.00 ERA over 18 innings with the Yankees within the common season, then didn’t enable a run in three postseason appearances.
The Yankees shouldn’t have a left-handed reliever on their 40-man roster however might convey again Tim Hill, who stays a free agent after posting a 2.05 ERA in 44 innings with the membership final yr.
