Prospects of the Week:
Rob Refnsyder, 2B:
The Yankees currently have a stacked Triple-A roster, with loads of MLB-caliber talent. Rob Refsnyder is one of these players, a low-risk player that has an MLB career ahead of him. While it’s been established that Refsnyder will have a career in the majors, what is still up in the air is Refnsyder’s ultimate role. Depending on the scout, Refsnyder could be destined for a utility player, or he may end up being an average regular at second.
An issue with Refsnyder is that he doesn’t have one single standout tool, and may not even possess a plus tool. In terms of speed, the second baseman is about average to slightly below. But, he has stolen 10 bases this season and nine last year thanks to a high baseball IQ. With that in mind, Refnsyder may be able to steal 5-10 bases a year in the majors. Refsnyder’s power is below average, especially due to his line drive swing and approach, but he should be able to muscle out up to 10 home runs a year if all goes well. Refsnyder’s best tool is his above average bat. His plate discipline and eye at the plate are outstanding, and he makes consistent contact. These tools are supported by an impressive 13.9 percent strikeout rate and 11.7 percent walk rate this year in Triple-A. Refsnyder’s average will probably hang around .270-.280, with an OBP about 70 points higher than that.
Refsnyder’s bat is solid, but it isn’t strong enough to allow him to start in the outfield. This is why it’s important for him to stick at second base if he wants to be an MLB regular. At his best, he may be fringy-average at second base. As long as he can reach that level, though, he should be able to stay at second. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Refsnyder played the outfield in college, so he’s still relatively new to second base.
Refnsyder isn’t the most exciting player and he lacks a game changing skillset, but the all-around package—a second baseman that hits .275 with a good OBP with a handful of homeruns and steals—may be enough for him to be a second-division starter in the major leagues.
Miguel Andujar, 3B:
Going into 2015, Andujar was seen as a relative unknown in the Yankees system. He’s like many Yankee prospects: a great athlete with loud raw tools but not much polish. Andujar’s minor league stats have never been very impressive, and unfortunately, that hasn’t changed much this season. That being said, he still has the tools to be a successful major league regular.
This season, Andujar made the leap from Low-A to High-A ball, something that he may not have been ready for. When you take that into perspective, his .238/.276/.350 slash line doesn’t look terrible, though it’s still not encouraging. Andujar’s been striking out more (17.4 percent of the time), and walking less (4.6 percent walk rate). His lack of experience and rawness makes these stats understandable and not as worrisome, though.
What’s more important right now for Andujar is his scouting report. Andujar’s plus raw power remains a standout tool, and while his bat is just fringe-average, that should be enough to allow his raw power play in games. Andujar’s speed is an underrated tool, and despite a lack of stolen bases so far in the minor leagues, he has above average speed and can be a rare third baseman that runs. Andujar’s glove is currently a liability, but his very strong arm will be enough to keep him at third long-term.
Andujar remains a very raw player with big upside and a lot of volatility. Some hoped that he would start to turn his tools into production this season, but a breakout will have to wait until next year in his second look at High-A. His upside remains a first-division regular with some serious pop and a decent average, but he’s unlikely to be in the Bronx before 2018.
Nelson Gomez
The Yankees had one of the largest July 2nd international signing hauls ever in 2014, inking several big name prospects to contracts. Nelson Gomez was given the second largest bonus from the Yankees, behind Dermis Garcia. Gomez, just 17, signed for $2.25 million and has already shown a lot of promise in his first year of professional ball.
Gomez’s statline isn’t exactly mindblowing, as he’s slashing .241/.351/.433, but he also has 10 home runs in 51 games. For a 17 year old in rookie ball, this is quite impressive. After all, the top July 2nd prospect last year, Gilbert Lara, is hitting just .255/.287/.339. Gomez brings an impressive pairing of tools at the plate, with potential to have an above average, or better, bat and game power. While his bat could play anywhere on the diamond, Gomez should be able to stick at third as long as he doesn’t add too much more weight to his already large frame. Gomez is light years away from making an impact in the Bronx, but he has the ability to be a top prospect in the next couple of years.
Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders
Friday:
RailRiders 3, Mud Hens 2
Saturday:
RailRiders 2, Mud Hens 4
Sunday:
RailRiders 9, Mud Hens 1
Monday:
Red Sox 1, RailRiders 2
Tuesday:
Red Sox 2, RailRiders 5
Wednesday:
Red Sox 3, RailRiders 4
Thursday:
Red Sox 2, RailRiders 3
Friday:
RailRiders 5, Red Wings 3
Saturday:
RailRiders 2, Red Wings 3
Sunday:
RailRiders 2, Red Wings 3
Notable Performances From The Week:
CF Ben Gamel: 14-37, 5 2B,1 3B, 2 HR, 9 R, 5 RBI, SB, 3 BB, 9 K
2B Rob Refsnyder: 8-35, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 8 R, 4 RBI, 7 BB BB, 6 K
1B Greg Bird: 7-23, 2B, R, 4 RBI, BB, 3 K
C Gary Sanchez: 11-41, 4 2B, 4 R, 4 RBI, CS, 2 BB, 6 K
RF Aaron Judge: 10-35, 2B, 3 HR, 5 R, 11 RBI, SB, 4 BB, 14 K
RHP Brady Lail: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 K—5.2 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Trenton Thunder
Friday:
Thunder 6, Mets 3
Saturday:
Thunder 4, Mets 2
Sunday:
Thunder 2, Mets 4
Wednesday:
Thunder 0, Rock Cats 5
Thunder 4, Rock Cats 1
Thursday:
Thunder 5, Rock Cats 6
Friday:
Fightin Phils 1, Thunder 2
Saturday:
Fightin Phils 4, Thunder 2
Sunday:
Fightin Phils 2, Thunder 0
Notable Performances From The Week:
CF Jake Cave: 12-36, 4 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, SB, BB, 6 K
SS Tyler Wade: 3-33, 2B, 2 R, 6 K
RHP Joel De La Cruz: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K
RHP Caleb Smith: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Cale Coshow: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Tampa Yankees
Friday:
Saturday:
Threshers 3, Yankees 5
Threshers 1, Yankees 0
Sunday:
Threshers 6, Yankees 7
Monday:
Manatees 2, Yankees 4
Tuesday:
Manatees 7, Yankees 12
Wednesday:
Manatees 1, Yankees 0
Thursday:
Yankees 4, Threshers 6
Friday:
Yankees 5, Threshers 1
Sunday:
Yankees 8, Flying Tigers 1
Monday:
Yankees 6, Flying Tigers 2
Yankees 4, Flying Tigers 0
Notable Performances From The Week:
SS Abiatel Avelino: 15-43, 2B, 8 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS, 2 BB, 5 K
3B Miguel Andujar: 13-37, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 8 R, 6 RBI, 2 SB, 3 BB, 4 K
SS Jorge Mateo: 15-40, 2B, 5 3B, 6 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, CS, 3 BB, 10 K
RHP Jonathan Holder: 5.1 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K—6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K
LHP Jordan Montgomery: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K
LHP Chaz Hebert: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 9 K
Charleston RiverDogs
Friday:
Sand Gnats 3, RiverDogs 2
Saturday:
Sand Gnats 1, RiverDogs 4
Sand Gnats 1, RiverDogs 8
Sunday:
Sand Gnats 2, RiverDogs 4
Tuesday:
Legends 0, RiverDogs 9
Wednesday:
Legends 11, RiverDogs 5
Thursday:
Legends 10, RiverDogs 12
Friday:
RiverDogs 6, Drive 3
Saturday:
RiverDogs 5, Drive 8
Sunday:
RiverDogs 6, Drive 2
Monday:
Braves 0, RiverDogs 3
Notable Performances From The Week:
SS Vince Conde: 17-44, 8 2B, 3 HR, 11 R, 15 RBI, 2 SB, 6 BB, 7 K
RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 6.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K
RHP Joey Maher: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 11 K—7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K
RHP Jordan Foley: 5.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 10 K
Staten Island Yankees
Friday:
Yankees 6, Renegades 4
Saturday:
Yankees 10, Renegades 1
Sunday:
Cyclones 2, Yankees 1
Monday:
Cyclones 7, Yankees 0
Tuesday:
Cyclones 7, Yankees 10
Wednesday:
Croscutters 4, Yankees 1
Thursday:
Croscutters 4, Yankees 6
Friday:
Croscutters 7, Yankees 6
Saturday:
Lake Monsters 2, Yankees 7
Sunday:
Lake Monsters 8, Yankees 10
Notable Performances From The Week:
SS Kyle Holder: 4-26, 2 R 10-22, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI, 4 SB, 5 BB, 3 K
RHP Domingo Acevedo: 5.1 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K
Pulaski Yankees
Friday:
Yankees 3, Braves 2
Saturday:
Yankees 1, Braves 5
Sunday:
Yankees 8, Braves 2
Tuesday:
Yankees 7, Blue Jays 0
Yankees 9, Blue Jays 2
Wednesday:
Yankees 2, Blue Jays 3
Thursday:
Astros 6, Yankees 10
Friday:
Astros 0, Yankees 5
Saturday:
Astros 1, Yankees 8
Sunday:
Yankees 15, Royals 3
Notable Performances From The Week:
CF Carlos Vidal: 17-44, 2 2B, HR, 11 R, 8 RBI, 2 SB, CS, 5 BB, 4 K
SS Hoy Jun Park: 12-39, 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 R, 8 RBI, 2 SB, 3 BB, 8 K
RHP David Palladino: 6.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K—7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 9 K
RHP Melvin Morla: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 6 K
RHP Nestor Cortes: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 10 K
RHP Adonis Rosa: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
(Photo: Brad Penner-USA Today Sports)