The Trenton Thunder had a rough year last year. Coming off of their 2013 Eastern League title, they fell to the bottom of the Eastern League Eastern Division. Tony Franklin, who suffered the worst year of his 8-year tenure at the helms of the New York Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, is out as manager. Al Pedrique is now the skipper and he has a bevy of the Yankees’ top prospects to prepare for the next level.
The Thunder appear to be early season favorites to contend for the Eastern League title. The team is stacked offensively and the pitching staff is led by the Yankees’ No 1 prospect. How long they will be held back in Double-A is the question.
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The outfield is led by the Yankees’ monster of a star in waiting Aaron Judge. Judge is the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect and just touched the surface last year with a .308/.419/.486, 17 home run season between two levels. The intimidating force in the middle of the lineup is expected to progress this season and should be in Triple-A before too long.
The infield is stacked with two future Yankees’ at both corners. Reigning Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player Greg Bird, the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect, is probably the best all-around hitter in the system. They can take their time with Kyle Roller in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he should be Triple-A bound soon.
Eric Jagielo, the Yankees’ No 8 prospect mans the hot corner. He has immense raw power and needs a full, healthy season, which he did not have in his first full season in 2014, to show what he is really capable of doing.
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Gary Sanchez (the Yankees’ No. 7 prospect) and Jake Cave (No. 22) also highlight a very stout lineup that will punish EL pitching with the likes of Dante Bichette, Jr., Mason Williams and Cito Culver filling out the rest.
Luis Severino is the ace of the Thunder staff and the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect. With C.C. Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka already looking less than stellar in their debuts, their is no denying that Severino will be on the fast track to the Bronx. But while he is there he will look to improve on a stellar 2014 (6-5, 2.46 ERA, 106 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 113.1 innings). Caleb Smith, a 14th round 2013 draft pick, is coming off of a breakout season and should help the rotation immensely.
The Binghamton Mets, the reigning Eastern League Champions, are also poised to compete. The New York Mets’ No. 6 ranked farm system (Baseball America) has many of their big names in Double-A on a well-rounded roster.
Brandon Nimmo, the Mets’ No. 3 prospect, leads the offensive charge anchoring the outfield, while No. 11 prospect, shortstop Gavin Cecchini, mans the infield. 21-year old righty Gabriel Ynoa is certainly worth keeping an eye on as well.
Overshadowed by Noah Syndergaard and Steve Matz, Ynoa has raw talent to be a Major League bottom of the rotation pitcher. He needs to work out high-walk rates and control problems, but should he come along this year, he will be yet another big arm to add to the Mets’ young arsenal of the future.