Yankees MiLB News: Baby Bombers Head to Spring Training

The New York Yankees farm system is slowly creeping back to being relevant. It started with strong drafts in both the 2013 and 2014 season. Now it appears that they are ready to show off their Baby Bombers as quite a few former draft picks have earned an invite to 2015 Spring Training in Tampa, Florida.

Headlining the list of fourteen draft picks to appear in spring training are the two biggest stars in the Yankees system. Monster right fielder Aaron Judge will make his 2015 spring debut. Judge was part of the 2013 first round triumvirate that included Eric Jagielo and Ian Clarkin. His debut season in 2014 earned him high praise, a Top 5 Yankees prospect ranking, and a Top 100 ranking by MLB.com. Having already drawn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton with his immense size (he stands at 6 foot 7 and weighs 230 pounds) and huge power swing (he blasted 17 home runs last year), Judge is the future of the Yankees outfield. Realistically, Judge won’t see the Bronx until mid-2016 as he hasn’t even appeared above High-A ball yet. Expect Judge to start the season in Double-A Trenton, but it will be fun to see what he can do with the big boys in March.

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Luis Severino will be joining Judge in Tampa this spring. Severino took the minor leagues by storm this past season. The soon-to-be 21 year old righty, signed in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic, climbed three levels of the minor leagues and all the way to the 23 spot in MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects.

His fastball is electric, teasing triple digits but consistently hitting 95. Severino went 6-5 over three levels with a 2.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while leading all Yankees minor league pitchers with 127 strikeouts. It looked like he may even hit Triple-A at one point until a sore shoulder forced him to miss a start and the Yankees to pull the reins a bit on their fast rising star. Severino could legitimately make an appearance in mid to late 2015, but most expectations are 2016.

Last year’s first overall pick Jacob Lindgren will be making his spring training debut after an amazing half-season debut. The 5-foot-11 lefty jumped four levels, starting in the Gulf Coast League and ending in Trenton. He could possibly be the most major league ready prospect in the Yankees system. Many felt he had a real shot at making the Opening Day roster as a left-handed specialist, however the acquisitions of Andrew Miller, Justin Wilson and Chase Shreve have suddenly created a crowded bullpen of left-handed arms. Expect Lindgren to start at Double-A, but don’t rule out a Bronx appearance before 2015 is all said and done.

Rob Refsnyder has been the topic of a lot of debate this offseason and he will get a chance to prove his worth in spring training. Many Yankees’ fans wanted to see Ref and Jose Pirela duke it out and win the second base job, however re-signing Stephen Drew has seemed to change that. It may be better off for Refsnyder, who could still use some polishing at second base.

Refsnyder exploded onto the scene, annihilating Double-A ball and continuing to roll after a mid-season promotion to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He slashed an incredible .318/.387/.444 over both levels in 2014 while hitting 14 home runs with 63 RBI. The former college outfielder is only in his second full season at second base, so although he may not break camp on the roster, it can be highly expected that he will make his debut in the Bronx in 2015.

The Arizona Fall League MVP Greg Bird will make a trip to Tampa this spring as well. The 22-year old first baseman made a name for himself in 2013 when he led all of the minors with 107 walks which helped him to a .428 on base percentage. His plate discipline and ability to hit for contact and power made him an attractive prospect. 2014 started off slow as he worked his way back from injury in extended spring training, but by season’s end he was rolling. It carried over to the AFL where he took home MVP honors and made the All Prospect Team. Bird will likely start the year in Double-A and should Kyle Roller get the call to the Bronx, he should become the starter for the RailRiders.

Jake Cave, the 2011 6th round draft pick by the Yankees, is looking like he may be a steal. Cave put up career numbers across the board in 2014 while manning a solid centerfield. Cave started the season at High-A Tampa, earning Florida State League Post Season All Star honors, and finished in Trenton. Overall, he went for a .294/.351/.414 slash line while hitting seven home runs and stealing 12 bases. He may never be a superstar, but he has a solid all around skill set to be a future fourth outfielder in the Bronx.

Joining them in spring training will be relievers Nick Rumbelow, Tyler Webb and James Pazos who was a perfect 10 for 10 in save opportunities in 2014. Catchers Trent Garrison and Kyle Higashioka will also make their debuts. First baseman Kyle Roller, who was arguably Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s MVP in 2014, will make a run to edge out Garrett Jones as Mark Teixeira’s back up. Two former Yankees first round picks, short stop Cito Culver and injury-plagued outfielder Slade Heathcott round out the group of Yankees draft picks heading to spring training.

The Yankees still have quite a few aging superstars on the big league level, so these Baby Bombers are likely a year away. It will still be interesting to see how they compete with big league competition even if it is spring training. It will be the first test of the new Yankee youth movement.

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