The days of the New York Yankees’ farm system being at the bottom of the barrel seem to be coming to an end. They took a huge step forward as an organization last season, jumping out of the cellar and into the Top 20. Aaron Judge and Luis Severino became household names and are widely regarded as Top 100 prospects. Now, the Baby Bombers are lighting up the box score in Spring Training.
It started on the opening day of the Grapefruit League season and hasn’t slowed down over their first three games.
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One of the top position battles to keep an eye on in spring training for the Yankees is second base. While Stephen Drew seems to be the odds on favorite to man the position, two of the Yankees top prospects are duking it out for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Both Jose Pirela and Rob Refsnyder blundered in the field in the opener, but both have atoned for it by swinging a hot bat. Pirela singled to drive in the first run of the Yankees’ 2015 season, while Refsnyder struggled in his debut. Along with the error, Ref struck out in the ninth with the winning run on base. He answered with a 2-for-3 performance on Thursday.
There is little question as to whether both can hit, as both are hitting .400 early on in spring training. The main concern is and has been their fielding. The Yankees have made three errors thus far in the Grapefruit League and all three have been made by the second basemen battling for the starting job.
One of the most highly anticipated Yankee prospect debuts fans and baseball junkies were looking forward to was the young fireballer, and No. 1 Yankees’ prospect, Luis Severino. His first inning couldn’t have gone better. Severino’s stuff was described as electric and filthy across the web, as the seventh ranked right handed pitching prospect in the minor leagues came out firing. The 21-year old superstar-to-be threw six straight strikes, striking out his first two batters, one looking on a changeup and one swinging on a 94 mile per hour fastball. A Ben Revere groundout ended Severino’s debut, three up and three down. Sure, he struggled to start the fourth, but the confidence he showed in his first inning of Major League spring training was certainly promising.
Another top prospect in the Yankees’ system people are looking forward to is their monster future right fielder Aaron Judge. The 6 foot 7, 255 pound 22-year old wasted little time introducing himself to big league spring training by playing the hero in game one. The Yankees trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, there were two outs and the count sat at 3-and-2. Judge sent a towering fly ball over the left centerfield wall and tied the game on a three run blast. Judge displayed the power and poise that has made him the Yankees No. 5 prospect.
Three fallen Yankees’ prospects have come out of the gate on fire as well.
- Tyler Austin, whose injuries have thus far not allowed him to reach his fullest potential, smacked a pinch hit home run Thursday afternoon against Pittsburgh.
- Slade Heathcott, once considered the Yankees top prospect by many minor league experts, has barely played over the past two seasons from reoccurring injuries. Heathcott was originally released in December but was brought back on a minor league deal. He responded with a 2-for-2 opening day performance.
- Mason Williams, the Yankees’ top prospect heading into 2013 has regressed in the years since. Many were surprised when he was protected on the 40-man roster, but he has started off 2015 on a hot streak as well. He has two doubles and two runs scored through the first three games.
One last prospect all eyes in the Yankees’ universe will be on this spring is Greg Bird. Mark Teixeira’s future replacement is known for some of the best plate awareness in minor league baseball, leading the minors in walks in 2013. His 2014 campaign started slow after early season injuries slowed him down, but he finished strong, winning the Arizona Fall League’s Most Valuable Player Award. He jumped up the prospect board, and may be closer than most people originally thought. The 22-year old lefty has two hits in his first four spring training at bats.
Does a hot start mean that the Baby Bombers are ready to take over in the Bronx? Of course not, but it is certainly promising to see the Yankees prospects performing well right out of the gate after a few down years in the minors of late. The 2015 Yankees roster is engulfed in veteran, big money deals, but if the Yankees’ prospects keep up the hot hitting, it will be hard to hold them back for long.
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