New York Yankees
Fresh scouting reports on Gleyber Torres, rest of Yankees' top prospects
We checked in with a Major League scout who knows the Yankees’ farm system very well the other day, and he raved about the quality and quantity that he saw this past season.
The veteran scout still thinks the Yanks have one of the top systems in baseball even after trading some of their better prospects last summer in deals with the Oakland Athletics and the Chicago White Sox. He says the Yanks are so deep that they can afford to deal a few more away to add another big piece or two to the Major League club.
“(Yankees GM) Brian Cashman and his staff have done a hell of a job drafting kids,” the scout said. “I tip my cap to (director of amateur scouting) Damon Oppenheimer and what he’s done in the draft.
“Their Latin guys are doing a hell of a job, too, because they’re turning up these kids without paying them millions of dollars. They’re getting some of these kids for $35,000, $40,000 or maybe $100,000, and these kids have tools.
“They’ve also traded for good prospects. They’ve done a hell of a job.”
Yes, he loves Gleyber Torres, who is ranked as one of baseball’s best talents. He’s very high on a bunch of other Yankees farmhands, as well.
The scout pulled out his notebook to give us a fresh reports on 28 of the Yankees’ best prospects.
Age: 22 (23 on Sept. 26, 2018)
Acquired: Traded by Houston Astros to Yankees on Nov. 17, 2016 with RHP Jorge Guzman for C Brian McCann.
Yankees prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 7.
2017 stats: Tampa (High-A), 1-3, 4.19 ERA, 9 starts, 34.1 IP, 33 hits, 17 runs, 16 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 31 K. Charleston (Low-A), 1-0, 1.84 ERA, 3 games, 2 starts, 14.2 IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 3 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 22 K.
2017 Florida State League playoff stats: Tampa (high-A), 0-1, 3.18 ERA, 1 start, 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K.
Scout’s take: “I love him. You’re going to like this kid. I saw him in the Fall League. He was throwing 91-97. He sat 94. He’ll show you a plus curveball at times that is tight with depth. His changeup needs some refinement, but it has a chance to be a plus pitch in the future. He’s aggressive. He gets swings and misses. He’s pretty good with a good body. And he’s a good makeup kid. His delivery gets out of whack at times and it affects his stuff. When he stays square and direct to the plate and he’s working downhill, he’s good. I give him a chance to be a No. 3 starter, a middle-of-the-rotation type guy. If everything comes, he has an outside chance to be a No. 2 starter. Based on what I’ve seen, I like him better than Chance Adams.”
Age: 23 (24 on March 6, 2018)
Acquired: Signed as amateur free agent for $7,500 on Oct. 16, 2012.
Yankees prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 6.
2017 stats: Trenton (AA) 5-1, 2.34 ERA, 14 starts, 79.1 IP, 65 hits, 23 runs, 21 ER, 8 HR, 17 BB, 82 K. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 1-1, 4.38 ERA, 2 starts, 12.1 IP, 12 hits, 6 runs, 6 ER, 8 BB, 8 K. Tampa (High-A), 0-4, 4.57 ERA, 7 starts, 41.1 IP, 49 hits, 29 runs, 21 ER, 5 HR, 9 BB, 52 K.
2017 Eastern League playoffs: Trenton (AA), 0 games.
Scout’s take: “For me, he’s a bullpen guy. They keep trying to start Acevado because he’s 23 years old and he’ll show you a plus changeup while working 93-100 and sitting 95-97. His slider is more like a cement mixer. That’s going to be the separator on if this guy continues to start or goes to the bullpen. But he’s got the fastball-changeup combo right now, and at times he’ll throw a Bugs Bunny changeup.”
Age: 23 (24 on Aug. 10, 2018)
Acquired: 2015 draft, 5th round
Yankees prospect ranking: MLB Pipeline, No. 2
2017 stats: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 11-5, 2.89 ERA, 21 starts, 115.1 IP, 81 hits, 39 runs, 37 ER, 9 HR, 43 BB, 103 K. Trenton (AA), 4-0, 1.03 ERA, 6 starts, 35 IP, 23 hits, 6 runs, 4 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 32 K.
2017 International League playoffs: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 2 starts, 9 IP, 8 hits, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 11 K.
Scout’s take: “The one thing I’ve noticed with Adams was his changeup was so-so, but the fastball, curveball and slider were all solid pitches. He throws down in the zone with depth. He can get swings and misses. I like him. He’s got some bulldog in him and he’s been consistent. He gives his team a chance to win almost every time he’s out there. But he needs a changeup that he can throw any time in the count and get swings and misses with it. He’s got a lot of Sonny Gray in him because of that bulldog. He’s not afraid to pitch inside. His future is really bright. For me, he’s a 3-to-5 starter … or even a closer. I’ve seen him 92-to-97. I know some people have Adams ranked as the Yankees’ No. 1 pitching prospect, but Justus Sheffield has more of an upside for me.”
Age: 22 (23 on March 2, 2018)
Acquired: Signed as amateur free agent for $750,000 on July 2, 2011.
Bats: Right
Yankees prospect ranking: MLB.Pipeline No. 5.
2017 hitting stats: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), .317 average, 227 AB, 36 runs, 72 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 9 HR, 30 RBIs, 17 BB, 33 K, 58 games. Trenton (AA), .312 average, 253 AB, 30 runs, 79 hits, 23 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 52 RBIs, 12 BB, 38 K, 2 SB, 3 CS, 67 games. Yankees (MLB), .600 average, 5 AB, 3 hits, 1 double, 0 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 SB, 3 games through Sept. 21.
2017 fielding stats: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), committed 7 errors in 57 games (57 starts) at third base. Trenton IAA), committed 10 errors in 58 games (57 starts) at third base.
2017 International League playoffs: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), .235 average, 34 AB, 1 run, 8 hits, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 0 BB, 6 K, 8 games.
Scout’s take: “Andujar is a good player. Defensively, he’s just going to be average. He works at it. He’s a diligent worker. A couple years ago, I went into Trenton and this guy was out there at 2:30 every day working on his defense. His foot work is the thing that gets tangled up. There are times where his foot work gets stagnant and he doesn’t move. Other times he moves his feet. So he’s got to be more consistent with his foot work. His arm is real good when he wants to show it off. There are times you’re looking at him and thinking he just has average arm strength, but I’ve seen him where he has to make a play deep in the hole. Oh yeah, there’s more than enough arm strength. If he doesn’t improve at third, I think he could end up being a corner outfielder. He has more than enough arm to play right field. Right now he probably has a better arm than most right fielders. He’s got a chance to hit, too. I like his bat. He’s not a big runner, but he’s not a clogger. He can go from first to third on a base-hit. To get this out of the Dominican for $750,000, that’s a hell out of sign.”