Yankees Chance Adams and the spectre of Luis Severino

The New York Yankees top-ranked pitching prospect, Chance Adams, has seemingly sat on the precipice of the Bronx for the last year. Observers have been stymied at the delay, but Brian Cashman has Luis Severino on his mind.

The New York Yankees have one of the best farm systems in the game. And RHP Chance Adams is their top pitching prospect, 53rd for Major League Baseball and second for the Yankees; 2B Gleyber Torres is their top prospect overall, second in the MLB.

But for some reason, known only to Brian Cashman, Adams did not even get as much as an inning in the bigs last year. Now we are left to wonder what Cash thinks of Adams, and what 2018 holds for the pitcher.

Just One Year Ago…

Adams entered 2017 as a rapidly rising player with his most prominent supporter being Brian Cashman. Here he is in an article last February with Steve Serby and the New York Post:

"Q: Who might be a sleeper starter? A: There’s a kid, Chance Adams, that was really dominant in A-ball and Double-A last year, and he may very well be our best pitching prospect, if he can continue with the stuff he had in Double-A into Triple-A, he’s someone that could be knocking on the door."

It seemed as if the only thing that was going to prevent Adams from a big league debut was performance; no worries there.

This from May, and an article entitled, Yankees Chance Adams is around the corner for the Yankees:

"Adams is a 22-year-old right-hander out of Dallas Baptist University, a fifth round selection from 2015. He was, to say the least, a very fast riser in the system, and while I would almost say his ascendance was as fast Luis Severino, he seemingly never got the same press in the prospect media coverage. I think he could be just as good, or even better."

It Keeps Going Like That

And here is a compendium of articles, the last of which is from August 18th, titled, Yankees Chance Adams: Excelling in the minors.

"Adams is 9-4 with a 2.56 ERA with 90:36 K:BB through 98.1 innings in 18 starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Adams absolutely dominated the Double-A level earlier this season, going 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA in six starts, and he’s been just as impressive since getting promoted."

The reviews were warranted, though, as Adams finished the season by being named Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the Yankees; CF Estevan Florial was named top position player.

"Adams went a combined 15-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 27 starts between Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 150 1/3 total innings, the Yankees’ top pitching prospect allowed 104 hits and 58 walks, while notching 135 strikeouts. “He’s been a winner at every level,” Yankees vice president of player development Gary Denbo told the New York Post. “He’s definitely an option for us in the starting rotation going forward.”"

That sounds like someone who should have gotten a call-up. Why, then, did he not?