Yankee Minor League notes

[jacksonianmarch]

Gabe Encinas has been the surprise so far through the first 2 months of workouts and the first 3 weeks of the season. He came to camp in great shape and consistently throwing mid 90s. His change and breaking ball have been improved as a result and he has dominated the long season leagues in his first taste of them to the tune of a 0.39ERA. He's now thrown 23IP, allowing 1ER, 11H, while striking out 20 and walking only 7. If he keeps this up, he'll be in High A by the time summer hits

 

Encinas with 6 innings of shutout ball yesterday, dropping his ERA to 0.31. Might be time to challenge him a little

[Meh]

Guys who have seen their stock rise: Jose Ramirez, Gabe Encias, Rob Refsnyder, JR Murphy, and a SSS but Jake Cave.

 

Holding their own: Sanchez(Good power numbers although I'd like to see more balls put in play) and Tyler Austin(Coming around lately, finally adjusting to double-A I think)

 

Guys who have seen their stock fall: Dellin Betances(I think any hope for him as a starter is dead and gone) Heathcott, Mason Williams(Not doing as well as I'd hoped), and Rondon(After a great ST he's been horrible moving to the rotation)

[jacksonianmarch]

Encinas has been lights out but left his last game with elbow soreness. Uh oh

[Meh]

assuming Judge gets done, my top 15 propsects

 

1. DePaula (I know everyone has Sanchez first, but I'm just a big DePaula fan)

2. Sanchez

3. Heathcott

4. Judge

5. Austin

6. Williams

7. Ramirez

8. Murphy

9. Banuelos

10. Jageilo

11. Hensley

12. Clarkin

13. O'Brien

14. Flores

15. Montgomery/Bird

 

Hopefully we can sign Molina in August to add to the system too. It's not a top system but its around the 9 to 12th range. Respectable, with room to improve. If Encinas hadn't gotten hurt and continue to pitch that well I would of switched him for Montgomery. Loving what I'm seeing from Jake Cave too, been in a slump recently but he's had a good year.

[jacksonianmarch]

Sanchez is the top guy. I still think Austin is the #2 with Williams, Banuelos, and Ramirez topping out the top 5. The only time I'd thrust a draftee into the top 5 without any experience, IMO, is one who is a consensus top 10 pick, like Cole was.

[jacksonianmarch]

So this Betances kid seems to have finally found his niche. He sucked out of the rotation the last 2 yrs, but since being converted to a full time reliever, he's been completely dominant, and he's found his strike zone. In his 17 relief appearances, he has an ERA of 2.30 with a 41/11 K/BB ratio in 31.1IP. More impressive, is what he's done the last 10 outings. 17IP 5H 1ER 25K 5BB. The guy has always had top flight stuff, sitting mid 90s as a starter. Now relieving, he's sitting high 90s and locating his previously inconsistent breaking pitch. He is a candidate for promotion should he keep this up, and might have finally found his niche after 8 yrs in the Yankees minors.

[jacksonianmarch]

From all that I read prior to the draft about the Yankees 2nd rounder, Gosuke Katoh, I was convinced this kid was an underslot signee the Yankees were going after because he was likely to stick up the middle. I was also convinced the kid had almost no pop. Damon Oppenheimer have a few interviews noting that he definitely stole Katoh from another team and that his power had been showing up significantly since he finished HS ball and in the workouts leading up the draft. I figured it was just a puff piece to sell us a kid who they were going to save $500K on signing. Well, that turned out to not be the case when they agreed to a full slot signing bonus. Then, he went to the GCL and is tearing it up. Granted, it is a SSS, but in 13 games, the kid has 8 extra base hits including 3HR's and is sporting a gawdy 1.199OPS. That is pretty impressive for an 18 yr old middle infielder in his first taste of pro ball. Oppenheimer may be onto something here.

[Meh]

Well you can never look at GCL stats, most of those guys are throwing straight fastballs. I'm intrigued by Katoh, but not expecting anything other than an org guy until he can prove he can hit in full season ball.

 

On a side note... Greg Bird with a grand slam and a good day.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the biggest knock I read on Katoh was his power potential. 3HR in 13 games as an 18 yr old using wood for the first time really opens the eyes a little. The kid has some pop. He just needs to continue it as he progresses, but the raw skill is there

[jacksonianmarch]

And Meh, Bird had been in a 2 for 30 slump prior to today. He's really young, but he is an uber talented kid who doesn't get the recognition he deserves because they had to move him off the C position. I love the fact that he's reaching base at a 40% clip and is on pace for 16HR or so as a 20yr old in full season. He reminds me a lot of Nick Johnson, except with a higher power potential. I hope he also shows better durability

[Meh]

And Meh, Bird had been in a 2 for 30 slump prior to today. He's really young, but he is an uber talented kid who doesn't get the recognition he deserves because they had to move him off the C position. I love the fact that he's reaching base at a 40% clip and is on pace for 16HR or so as a 20yr old in full season. He reminds me a lot of Nick Johnson, except with a higher power potential. I hope he also shows better durability

 

Yep, he's been awesome so far. Did you see Mike over at RAB and his write up on the current top 30. No Peter O'Brien cause he's no longer a catcher and is 'too old' for high A ball. He just turned 23 years old 4 days ago.

[jacksonianmarch]

O'Brien is an elite hitter who has been in the system for a year. He'll finish his first full pro season in AA and will be a big league option come end of yr 2014

[jacksonianmarch]

Bird s 3 for 3 with 3HR and 6RBI tonight. His ceiling is immense. 14HR with 6 weeks to go in his first long season as a 20 yr old. He very well may hit 20. He is probably going to be in Tampa to start 2014 and will probably start moving faster

[jacksonianmarch]

He struck out in AB #4 and had an RBI single in AB #5.

[Meh]

O'Brien is an elite hitter who has been in the system for a year. He'll finish his first full pro season in AA and will be a big league option come end of yr 2014

 

He's not an elite hitter... He's a good hitter, but not an elite.

[jacksonianmarch]

The guy has done nothing but rake. His only issue is his K rate, which is too high.

[jacksonianmarch]

We need to bring up Betances and let Chamberlain go. Its too bad, really, that Joba imploded to this degree. A combination of immaturity, injury and organizational buttf***ing cost him a lucrative career. Its time to cut bait. He's a FA at years end and he isn't worth anything on the market and we aren't resigning him. And its time for the Betances era to begin.

 

Finally, the Yankees figured it out with Dellin. He isn't a starter. He's 6'8" and throws near 100mph with an absolutely knee buckling curve. In short stints, he's been able to command his pitches, somewhat. He still walks too many (20 in 43.2IP as a reliever) but he has been absolutely lights out otherwise. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 16.1IP striking out 26 in that time. It's time to bring him up and see what he can do. The kid is 25 now, time to take off the gloves.

[jacksonianmarch]

Gary Sanchez promoted to AA. He started to stagnate in High A, effectively repeating the level he ended with in 2012. He had been hitting in the high .270s with an OPS over .800 as short as one month prior but he'd fallen on hard times of late, seeing his OPS slip into the .730 range. They promoted him after he showed that he deserved it defensively and now he's passed the second big test of the Yankee system, getting out of the FSL. He responded in his first game going 1 for 3 with an RBI double and a HBP. I hope he can finish well

[jacksonianmarch]

Baseball America has put Abiatal Avelino on helium watch. He's the Yankees 18 yr old GCL shortstop who has done some remarkable things this season. His slash line is pretty impressive overall with a .356/.409/.525 line to go along with 18 steals in 25 games. But the cool thing is, the kid has hit a triple in each of his last 4 games. That's rather impressive for a kid so young. He also is playing the position well and should be able to leapfrog the NYP next yr and go right to Charleston should the Yankees go that route.

[jacksonianmarch]

I still don't get why the Yankees are content with letting Bird stagnate in A ball. He's a full year younger than the average player in the SAL at 20 and he has shown plate discipline and power while down there to the tune of 82 walks and 16HRs. He's OPSing over .900 through 104 games and he is a full time 1b now. Take the reigns off and move the kid up

[jacksonianmarch]

He's gotten even better over his last 3 games, going 6 for 12. 91 walks, 18HR, and a .929OPS. He needs to be in Tampa and is probably leaning towards a top 5 slot in the system

[jacksonianmarch]

Miguel Andujar is showing that he is still a top flight player. After coming to the states last yr as a 17 yr old with a lot of hype, he was an unadulterated disaster in the GCL. This yr, a year older and wiser, he's hitting over .300 with an .850+OPS and some power. He should be an option for long season Charleston next yr and if he can start building off his success this yr, he could jump onto the prospect scene as soon as 2014

[Meh]

Just thinking about the top prospects in the system, it's a solid system currently, but has the chance to really take off this year. My top prospect list for the Yankees, as follows....

 

1. Gary Sanchez - no brainer here for me.

2. Rafael DePaula - Love the arm, could be a top of the rotation starting pitcher. No denying the stuff.

3. Mason Williams - Young, fast, could add some power to his frame, still a big fan of his. 4 tool players are still hard to find.

4. Eric Jagielo - Good power bat in a position we will need major help with soon.

5. Aaron Judge - Big project but I'm a huge personal fan of his.

6. Tyler Austin - Had a down year in 2013, hoping for a rebound

7. Greg Bird - Big year for him, let's see if he can do it again

8. Slade Heathcott - I could see him coming up in 2014 in the outfield, some time in August

9. Manny Banuelos - missed 2013 with TJS

10. Ian Clarkin - Almost went with Campos or Hensley here, Ian's the final 2013 first rounders we got. Young lefty with good stuff.

[Hoplite]

@ProfessorParks 3h

The @RedSox farm is so much better than the #Yankees farm that I would encourage NY fans to drink heavily for the next decade.

 

@ProfessorParks 2h

@JohnBotelhoSJ Sanchez is Yankees top prospect; would rank in the 4-6 range for Sox. No other Yankee would crack RedSox list.

[jacksonianmarch]

Dutchy, I would think Sanchez, Bird and Williams would be on your radar. Regardless, the Yankees minor league system had the worst year I could have imagined. 17 of the top 20 prospects per scout.com either had a career worst yr or we're injured. Of the other three, only one had a career year (Bird). These things happen. Just 3 seasons ago (2011), we were coming off an epic MiLB season where we seemingly hit gold with everybody. Our system is a lot better than it showed last yr, but unfortunately without anyone stepping up in the higher levels, we lack MLB ready replacements. That being said, we have a few guys going into 2014 in their final years of their contracts. Soriano, Gardner, Jeter, Johnson as of right now. This means our OF prospects have a year to get their s*** straight and they could, theoretically, be ready for the 2015 season.

[Behindenemylines]

Dutchy, I would think Sanchez, Bird and Williams would be on your radar. Regardless, the Yankees minor league system had the worst year I could have imagined. 17 of the top 20 prospects per scout.com either had a career worst yr or we're injured. Of the other three, only one had a career year (Bird). These things happen. Just 3 seasons ago (2011), we were coming off an epic MiLB season where we seemingly hit gold with everybody. Our system is a lot better than it showed last yr, but unfortunately without anyone stepping up in the higher levels, we lack MLB ready replacements. That being said, we have a few guys going into 2014 in their final years of their contracts. Soriano, Gardner, Jeter, Johnson as of right now. This means our OF prospects have a year to get their s*** straight and they could, theoretically, be ready for the 2015 season.

 

The signing of the high ticket players will continue to hurt the $pankees minor league system as their draft picks end up going to other teams.

[jacksonianmarch]

The signing of high ticket players definitely hurts, although the majority of our hay has been made on players after round 1. Take a look at our history from 2007 to 2011 and tell me why we should be keeping our #1's. Hence why the org is demolishing itself right now and we just released 50 players, some of which had some upside

[Behindenemylines]

The only way the $pankees can stay under the $189 and still be a consistant playoff contender is to mix in players from their farm system with their FA signings. Since their farm system is a mess right now that is hard for them to do. If the A-Rod ruling comes out and the suspension is reduced in half then they will be right up against that $189 again with numerous holes in their pitching.

[jacksonianmarch]

First thing, we are exceeding the $189 million. That much is for sure. I think Hal saw his revenues plummet and people really not care come the end of 2013 even with 2 icons retiring, so he figured the place would be empty if we put out another failure. The amount he'd lose at the gate or from the TV revenue dwarfs the amount he'll get back from revenue sharing or lux tax.

 

Second, there is a rumor out there that the Yankees are going to shatter the spending record for INTL free agents. Their plan is to spend over $12 million on INTL Free Agents this yr and take the 2 yr penalty after that. The rule, as it is currently states, keeps teams to a certain limit based on their position at the end of the year. The Yankees limit figures to be $2 million or so. If you spend over that, you pay a 100% tax on it and you are kept to a strict $500K cap for the following 2 seasons. If an INTL draft is instituted as Selig hopes, they would lose their first round pick for the next 2 yrs. There is a lot of international talent out there this yr and apparently, the Yankees are on the ground like they never have been. Instead of being fired, the Yankees amateur scouting department is getting support like they never have before.

[seabeachfred]

First thing, we are exceeding the $189 million. That much is for sure. I think Hal saw his revenues plummet and people really not care come the end of 2013 even with 2 icons retiring, so he figured the place would be empty if we put out another failure. The amount he'd lose at the gate or from the TV revenue dwarfs the amount he'll get back from revenue sharing or lux tax.

 

Second, there is a rumor out there that the Yankees are going to shatter the spending record for INTL free agents. Their plan is to spend over $12 million on INTL Free Agents this yr and take the 2 yr penalty after that. The rule, as it is currently states, keeps teams to a certain limit based on their position at the end of the year. The Yankees limit figures to be $2 million or so. If you spend over that, you pay a 100% tax on it and you are kept to a strict $500K cap for the following 2 seasons. If an INTL draft is instituted as Selig hopes, they would lose their first round pick for the next 2 yrs. There is a lot of international talent out there this yr and apparently, the Yankees are on the ground like they never have been. Instead of being fired, the Yankees amateur scouting department is getting support like they never have before.

 

Well Jacko, at least I saw this coming and I may have been the first to say without equivocation that the Yankees were sure to go on a spending spree after the Red Sox won the World Series last October. That was about as easy to read as a nursery rhyme. However, it doesn't speak very highly for the love and loyalty Yankee fans have for their team. They did go 85-77 this past season, not exactly liverwurst, and yet the fans, many of us who consider them to be nothing but a bunch of entitled and spoiled prima donnas, stayed away from the games in droves. And, please my friend, do NOT make comparisons with the 2012 Red Sox. We lost 93 games that season and were a complete train wreck---and yet we still drew pretty well for the most part. You may find that your drafted players may not want to sign with your team because they know it is nothing more than a one way ride to nowhere.