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)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 25: Starting pitcher Jonathan Loaissiga #38 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Yankees won 4-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
The New York Yankees had a dominant season, but had the unfortunate luck of being in the same division as the team with the best record in baseball. Can their deep farm system help them get over the hump in 2019?
As part of our continuing coverage at Call to the Pen of the minor leagues, we will be covering each organization’s top players for 2018. The coverage will go in reverse order of record. Today, we will look at the New York Yankees.
We are going to review the system’s leaders for each organization statistically, then choose one hitter and one pitcher to honor for every team. This will be primarily based on statistical performance, though some “age relative to level” could come into play, so a very impressive season from a 28-year-old in AA will rank below a nearly as impressive season from a 20-year-old at the same level.
After we review each organization’s hitter and pitcher of the year, we will close out October with Call To The Pen’s Minor League team of the year. That will lead into November starting our team top 10 prospect lists. In other words, there will be plenty of minor league content on the way at CTTP, so keep coming back for more each day this offseason!!
New York Yankees minor leagues
Considered one of the elite farm systems in the game the last half-decade, the New York Yankees have begun to really see their farm system manifest into their major league squad. The lineup for the Yankees is significantly home-grown, and that’s one thing that is underrated by many.
Over the last few seasons, the depth of pitching in the Yankees organization has lengthened out significantly while the hitting has graduated and moved to the majors or been utilized in trades. The system shows it as there are multiple candidates for the top pitcher this season and just a few for the top hitter.
Before we offer up awards on the season, let’s take a look at the system’s statistical leaders:
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.
New York Yankees Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Mike King
Boston College’s second starter in 2016, Mike King was the 12th round pick of the Miami Marlins that season. He was traded to the New York Yankees last offseason in an under-radar deal that turned into one of the steals of the offseason.
King, like a lot of college starters do in the Yankees system, saw his velocity tick up under Yankees tutelage, as his high-80s fastball began regularly sitting in the low-90s and touching 95-96 with hard, heavy sink. He pairs that with an above-average slider and a change that he commands very well.
While he may not have an ace ceiling, King has gone from a back-end starter to a potential mid-rotation guy this season. He should open in AAA in 2019, but he could see time in pinstripes in 2019.
The New York Yankees 4th round pick in 2016 out of Gulf Coast Community College, Nick Nelson jumped up three levels this season with excellent sinking stuff driving his move up the ladder. Finishing at AA, Nelson combined for a 3.55 ERA and a 63/144 BB/K ratio over 121 2/3 innings and only allowed 3 home runs on the season.
The Yankees plucked Erik Swanson in trade from the Texas Rangers, and the well-built righty moved up to AAA in 2018, tossing 121 2/3 innings, with a 2.66 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 29/139 BB/K ratio. Swanson could be a trade target this offseason if he’s not plucked in the Rule 5.
Drafted in the 18th round from UAB in 2017, the New York Yankees worked their college pitcher magic again on Garrett Whitlock in 2018. Coming out with stuff he’d never shown before as an amateur, he rocketed up the organization ladder, making the choice of King a tough pick atop this system. On the year, Whitlock combined to toss 120 2/3 innings with a 1.86 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 41/122 BB/K ratio.
Acquired from Cleveland in 2016, Justus Sheffield made his major league debut with the New York Yankees this season. He pitched very well between AA and AAA, moving to the bullpen at the end of the season to prepare for a bullpen role with the Yankees down the stretch. In the minors, he combined for a 2.48 ERA over 116 innings, with a 1.14 WHIP, and a 50/123 BB/K ratio.
Trevor Stephan was an ideal pick for the Yankees vaunted college arm development, a 6’5″ righty out of Arkansas that they selected in the 3rd round in 2017. He reached AA in 2018 after opening his first full season in the system at high-A. He totaled 124 1/3 innings, with a 3.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 38/140 BB/K ratio.
Flying up prospect rankings in 2018/2019 is Deivi Garcia. He opened the season in extended spring, but once he was turned loose, he was dominant, jumping up all the way to AA at 19 years old. His 5’10” stature leaves some questions for scouts, but a 2.55 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 20/105 BB/K ratio over 74 innings shows he’s got the stuff to succeed!
Next. Athetics minor league awards. dark
While New York Yankees fans are certainly not pleased with the ending of their 2018 season, the farm system is deep enough to help the team at the big league level or fuel a trade for any piece needed to help get the Yankees over the hump in 2019.
