The New York Yankees have been looking for someone to be their next cornerstone at shortstop for years. While several solid players have come through the position since Derek Jeter retired, the Yankees have not had anything that could be considered a generational talent.
That may be ready to change in the coming years. The Yankees are considered to be the favorites to sign Roderick Arias, a switch hitting Dominican shortstop who is considered the top international prospect in the upcoming class.
The @Yankees are the favorites to sign switch-hitting Dominican shortstop Roderick Arias, the No. 1 prospect on our new International Top 50 list: https://t.co/utVaoUkzWz pic.twitter.com/JrhrNEW9d5
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 26, 2021
New York Yankees hope to have future cornerstone at short
According to MLB.com, Arias is considered to be the consensus top prospect in the upcoming international class. He is considered to be an impressive talent, someone whose solid all around game could lead to his becoming a star as he develops.
Defensively, Arias could be a potential Gold Glove candidate. He is considered to have a strong throwing arm, capable of making any throw at the position from anywhere on the diamond. Arias appears to have a knack for always being in the right position, which added to his excellent footwork and soft hands, could make for an excellent defensive shortstop.
While his defense would be enough to make Arias an intriguing prospect, there is far more to him than his glove. He is considered to have strong plate discipline and an impressive ability to make contact, allowing him to put his speed to good use. Arias is not just a contact hitter; he has excellent power to all fields and is considered to have the potential to be a plus-plus hitter in the majors if he develops properly.
It is unfair to label anyone as the next Jeter, let alone some 16 year old from the Dominican that has yet to sign. But that does not mean that Arias could not be the next Yankees’ star at the position if he develops as expected. He could be a part of the next Core Four, joining fellow international phenom Jasson Dominguez as the Yankees look to build a new homegrown collection of talent.
The New York Yankees are considered to be the favorites to sign top international prospect Roderick Arias. He could be part of the next Core Four.