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New York Yankees 2018 minor league awards

By Benjamin Chase

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 06: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees fields a throw to first base for the out on a ground ball hit to second base by Mitch Moreland #18 of the Boston Red Sox (not in photo) during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 06: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees fields a throw to first base for the out on a ground ball hit to second base by Mitch Moreland #18 of the Boston Red Sox (not in photo) during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New York Yankees Minor League Hitter of the Year: Dom Thompson-Williams

Level(s): low-A Charleston, high-A Tampa
Stats: .299/.363/.546, 100 G, 415 PA, 17 2B, 4 3B, 22 HR, 20 SB, 33/102 BB/K

An Iowa high school boy, Dom Thompson-Williams returned home to Iowa to Iowa Western Community College, where the Yankees drafted him in the 5th round in 2016. He’s been showing he knows much more than corn ever since.

Thompson-Williams played across A-ball levels in 2018, but he spent most of his time in high-A on the season. While he didn’t put up a ton of walks, his incredible blend of power and speed in center field is impressive and should give him a chance to push forward as a top prospect in an organization loaded with elite talent. He’ll open his 2019 in AA.

Runners-up

The definition of a local guy, Ben Ruta grew up in New Jersey and attended college in Staten Island before being selected in the 30th round in 2016 by the New York Yankees. He has been showing himself to be a late-round gem. He’s not a hulking guy, but he has a smooth left-handed swing that will generate gap power from a first baseman with a lot of athleticism that shows up on the basepaths. Combined between high-A and AA in 2018, Ruta hit .300/.350/.441 over 119 games with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 8 home runs, and stole 37 bases.

Picked up from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017, Ryan McBroom has been swinging a gap power bat with the New York Yankees since they acquired him. In 2018, he opened at AAA, but he struggled with his plate recognition, in spite of hitting .295, and the Yankees had him finish the year at AA. Overall, McBroom hit .302/.348/.458 with 23 doubles and 15 home runs over 121 games.

With the glut of outfielders under control for long-term for the New York Yankees, Clint Frazier may be utilized in trade this winter. Frazier fought through injuries in 2018, but he was quite solid when healthy, hitting .305/.388/.562 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, and 6 steals in 54 games in the minors. He also posted a .390 OBP over 15 major league games as well.

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