New York Yankees 2018 minor league awards

New York Yankees Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Mike King

Level(s): high-A Tampa, AA Trenton, AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Stats: 11-5, 25 G, 24 GS, 161 1/3 IP, 1.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 29/152 BB/K

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.

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Runners-up

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!

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.