The Double-A Trenton Thunder are set to kick-off their 2016 season against the Erie SeaWolves (the Tigers’ affiliate) on Thursday. The club released an initial seventeen-man roster on April 4, and several more players have been added to it since; as such, the roster currently sits at 25 players. With the Yankees showing more and more willingness to make aggressive promotions and bolster their major league roster from within, we may well see several of the players currently on Trenton’s roster make it to the show this season. There are several players that may just force their hand.
The Rotation
According to Pinstriped Prospects, Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell announced that the rotation will be:
- Brady Lail, RHP
- Cale Coshow, RHP
- Ronald Herrera, RHP
- Dietrich Enns, LHP
- Jordan Montgomery, LHP
Lail spent the majority of 2015 pitching for the Thunder (and pitching well, with a 2.45 ERA), making 19 starts and tossing 106 1/3 IP. He earned a late season promotion to Triple-A, where he was rocked to the tune of a 4.62 ERA, allowing 46 hits and 4 home runs. He walked more (17) than he struck out (13) in just 37 IP. Lail was ranked as the Yankees’ ninth-best prospect by the BP Prospect Staff, and will likely be the first in line for a promotion should the need arise at Triple-A.
Coshow and Herrera both finished up 2015 in Double-A (although Herrera did so in the Padres organization — he was acquired in a deal for Jose Pirela), and that is essentially where their similarities end. Coshow is a 6’5″ hoss that throws in the upper-90s and has been most successful out of the bullpen, whereas Herrera checks in at 5’10”, sits in the low-90s, and has primarily been a starter. I could see Coshow as a bullpen shuttle piece at some point this season, particularly if he struggles in his first real shot as a full-time starter.
Enns missed most of 2014 and half of 2015 due to Tommy John Surgery, though he seemingly did not miss a step, pitching to a 0.61 ERA with 8.4 K/9 in 58 2/3 IP. Drafted as a reliever, Enns has the look of a classic command/control lefty, so it isn’t surprising that the Yankees would give him a shot to start. Montgomery has a similar profile, as a back-of-the rotation type (I would argue he has one of the highest floors in the system).
The Bullpen
By process of elimination, the Thunder bullpen will include Giovanny Gallegos, Mark Montgomery, Conor Mullee, Evan Rutckyj, Alex Smith, Caleb Smith, Matt Tracy and Matt Wotherspoon. Tracy made his big league debut in 2015, tossing two innings against the Red Sox last April, Rutckyj made some headlines for kind of bashing the Yankees before being returned to the team, Montgomery has seemingly been around forever, and that’s where the noteworthy information about this group ends.
Though, to be fair, I do think that Montgomery and Rutckyj have some semblance of upside as middle relievers.
The Catchers
Kyle Higashioka has been in the Yankees system since 2008 (drafted in the 7th round out of high school), and has all of 69 PA above High-A. He isn’t completely clueless at the plate, but he is essentially a glove-first catcher nevertheless. Once upon a time, Sebastian Valle was an intriguing prospect, but those days are long gone. Both Higashioka and Valle are organizational filler at this point, though both could eventually see time in a back-up role at the highest level (stranger things have happened).
The Infield
This group is largely dominated by disappointment, with Dante Bichette, Cito Culver, and (probably) Tyler Austin seeing a great deal of playing time. We have two former top picks that have failed to do much of anything, and a former top-100 type that has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness. All three have a great deal to prove if they hope to be in the organization’s long-term plans. Interestingly enough, I could see Culver being transitioned to the mound at some point, as his plus-plus arm has never been in question (and his solid-average to above-average defense does not make up for his complete inability to hit).
Tyler Wade is a player to watch, however. Ranked as the team’s eighth-best prospect by MLB.com, he has a smart, high-contact approach at the plate, the speed to be an asset on the basepaths, and the tools to be a solid defender at short. Wade lacks power, but he has the look of an average regular at either second or short nonetheless.
The Outfield
Dustin Fowler is the jewel of the roster, ranking 5th and 6th in the system by BP and MLB.com, respectively. He reminds me quite a bit of Brett Gardner, as an above-average defender with a strong approach from the left side and a swing that portends average-ish power in the future. Fowler has the tools to be an average regular in center, and a reasonable floor as a solid fourth outfielder — either of which is a fine outcome for an 18th round draft pick.
Lane Adams, Juan Silva, and the recently returned Jake Cave round out the outfield, and none look like much more than a back-up at this stage in their careers. This could be a big year for Cave, though, who was last off-season’s Fowler before backsliding in 2015.
Lead photo: Kim Klement/Getty Images