Yankees minor league baseball begins today with a prospect preview

Double-A Trenton Thunder

The potential big league talent here is razor thin, but the few here have high upsides. In fact, there is only one stand-out position player: Thairo Estrada.

Some players get worse as they rise through the system, others—such as Estrada—get better.

His line from Staten Island in 2015 (.267/.338/.360) has consistently improved as he has advanced. Estrada put up his best numbers yet last year at Trenton, hitting .301/.353/.392 and shined as one of the toolsiest players in the Arizona Fall League.

He starts the season as the Yankees 10th best prospect and, although he is out of MLB’s Top 100, John Sickels over at MiLB recently posted his 175 Best MLB Prospects for 2018 and rated Thairo 146th.

And here’s what his major league baseball prospect profile says about him:

"In 2017, when he challenged for the Double-A Eastern League batting title at age 21,[Estrada] hit .407 in the EL playoffs and ranked as the best shortstop prospect in the Arizona Fall League. Though New York has played him at second and third base to enhance his versatility and to accommodate higher-profile prospects such as Gleyber Torres, there’s no question that Estrada is a big league shortstop. He covers a lot of ground thanks to his smooth actions and keen instincts, and he has the plus arm to make all of the throws. He’s also an asset at second and third base, and he’s athletic enough to handle the outfield if asked."

Estrada is at a point where the only discussion scouts are having is if he is starter or utility infielder at the major league level.

One and Done

Thairo might be reassigned to Scranton as soon as he is done rehabbing from his bullet wounds. After that, it’s only a matter of time before the Yankees get an up-close look at this promising player.

And that’s about it.

Chris Gittens is too inconsistent to be anything but a big bat on the bench maybe someday, and no one else has enough history to warrant real consideration. But I must at least pause to mention one of my favorite minor leaguers, just not talented enough to become a player, and that is Abiatal Avelino.

Avelino has a good bat, but not good enough. His slash from last year speaks volumes .254/.304/.356, especially with the paltry three home runs he hit. He is a good defender but not good enough to overcome his offense. He’s talented, but just not talented enough.

But every report I have ever read and every inning I have seen him play marks Abiatal as a player who plays hard all the time and gets the most from his talent. He’s the kind of player you want to see succeed, but sadly in his case probably never will. Avelino will likely climb to Triple-A this year, but that will be his summit.

While that might be true for some of the pitchers also at Trenton, some will end their journeys at an elevated level.