Yankees minor league baseball begins today with a prospect preview
By Cory Claus
High-A Tampa Tarpons
Tampa opens with a new name but several returning players. And the newest pitcher might be the best of the bunch.
Jonathan Loaisiga just arrived in South Florida but might not be staying long. The right-hander has already proven a fast riser and might just go on proving it.
Originally signed by the Giants in 2012, the 23-year old Nicaraguan has faced an array of injuries. San Fran had seen enough, or not enough, of him to release him in 2015; the Yankees signed him a year later.
And Jonathan promptly had Tommy John.
But since his return, his stuff has looked electric and his rise meteoric. He started eleven games and put up a paltry 1.38 ERA and 0.61 WHIP, with 33 SO in 32 innings to go with only three walks. Here’s MLB’s scouting report:
"While Loaisiga is small and skinny, he has surprising power to his three-pitch repertoire. His quick arm repeatedly generates 93-96 mph fastballs that top out at 98 with life down in the strike zone. His low-80s curveball features a high spin rate and his upper-80s changeup has nice fade, albeit with a bit too much velocity. Loaisiga has a clean delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to work the bottom of the strike zone and issue just three walks in 32 2/3 innings last season. If he winds up in the bullpen, his stuff should add even more power and he could rush through the Minors."
Look Alive
Jonathan looks like he has too live of an arm to keep him buried for long. His strikeout-to-walk ratio either fast tracks him as a starter or super tracks him as a reliever.
That’s why Loaisiga is moving to High-A after only one career start at Low-A Charleston in 2016. It’s also why he is ranked 14th in the Yankees system, ahead of such players as German (18) and Billy McKinney (19).
I will likely write a full review of these levels in late May, as I did last year. It would not be unexpected if Loaisiga were to be pitching at Double-A by then. And he’s not the only real potential future Yankees starter at this level.