Prospects of the Week:

Domingo Acevedo, SP

He’s 6’7”, 242 pounds. His fastball tops out at 103, and his secondary pitches are nothing to mess with either. He has a 1.69 ERA in Low-A this season. Do I have your attention yet? Hopefully I do, because Domingo Acevedo is a serious name to watch in the Yankees system. To start, it’s clear that Acevedo has elite size. He’s maxed out physically, with a massive frame that supports his massive fastball. Speaking of fastballs, it’s by far Acevedo’s best pitch. He’s been measured throwing a 103 mph fastball, regularly topping out at 101 mph. The fastball is not straight, as it does have above-average life, and with a bit better command, the pitch could be a plus-plus offering. His best secondary pitch is likely his slider. It’s not close to the fastball, but with some polish it could be average to slightly above. Acevedo, unlike many flame throwing prospects, also has a usable third offering in his changeup. It’s still developing, but with hitters stuck looking out for a triple-digit fastball, the changeup could become an effective average pitch. Acevedo is clearly not the typical 21-year old, but he gets even more unique when it comes to command. Much of the time, a pitcher with a huge fastball is held back due to command. In the case of Acevedo, his command is actually average with a chance to get even better.

Obviously, on talent alone, Acevedo has the pure upside of an ace. That being said, he has an inconsistent delivery and his stamina is quite poor at the moment, with fastball velocity significantly dropping throughout his outing. With that in mind, Acevedo is more likely to end up as a reliever. Luckily, he can be a shutdown closer. Acevedo was great in Low-A, with a 1.69 ERA, 9.94 K/9, and decent 2.81 BB/9 (Acevedo was a bit old for the level, though, at 21). He also had one start in A-Ball, in which he gave up a run in 1.2 innings. Acevedo will start next season in A-Ball, and the Yankees will give him every chance to be a starter. With three pitches that will play in the major leagues, Acevedo stands a decent shot of starting in the big leagues. If Acevedo is moved to the bullpen, though, he could move very quickly. With possibly the biggest upside in the Yankees system, Acevedo could become a front of the rotation starter if all goes well, and with a fall back plan of dominant reliever, the future is very bright for this Yankees prospect.

Eric Jagielo, 3B

The Yankees farm system has been hit pretty hard this season by injuries, with some top prospects, including Ty Hensley, Ian Clarkin, and Domingo German, falling victim to injury. Another prospect to miss developmental time due to an injury is Eric Jagielo. Jagielo had a promising start to the season, with a .284/.347/.495 slash line in Double-A. Unfortunately, the third baseman injured his knee after 58 games, and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, ending his season. In addition to missing valuable time, a significant side effect of this injury is that it could move Jagielo off of third base. He already has limited range, and knee surgery couldn’t have helped. While this season has been a relative loss for Jagielo, there is still plenty to like with the prospect.

Jagielo features plus power in his left handed bat, as well as a potentially above average hit tool. This combination should be enough for him to be a first-division starter at third base in the majors, or a second-division starting first baseman. Before falling victim to injury, Jagielo had a good start to this season in his first go around in Double-A. This is particularly encouraging, as Jagielo was disappointing last season, hitting .259 with a noticeable platoon split at High-A. Now, with his knee healed, Jagielo will head to the Arizona Fall League to make up for missed reps. Scouts will keep a close eye on Jagielo to see how he is moving after the surgery, as diminished range could play a large factor in his future.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (81-63)

Notable Performances From The Week:
RF Aaron Judge: 5-21, 2B, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Trenton Thunder (71-71)

Notable Performances From The Week:
SS Tyler Wade: 9-28, R, SB, 9 K
OF Jake Skole: 7-19, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, CS, 4 K
RHP Rookie Davis: 6.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K
LHP Caleb Smith: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Tampa Yankees (67-72)

Notable Performances From The Week:
3B Miguel Andujar: 5-19, RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 SB
CF Dustin Fowler: 4-20, 2 R, 2 K
LHP Dietrich Enns: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Charleston RiverDogs (67-74)

Notable Performances From The Week:
3B Donny Sands: 7-24, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, CS, BB, 5 K
RHP Joey Maher: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 10 K

Staten Island Yankees (41-34)

Notable Performances From The Week:
OF Trey Amburgey: 3-20, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB, CS, BB, 4 K
RHP Domingo Acevedo: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K
RHP Kolton Mahoney: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 9 K

Pulaski Yankees (45-23)

Notable Performances From The Week:
CF Carlos Vidal: 3-13, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB, BB, K
SS Hoy Jun Park: 4-16, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K
LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K

(Photo: Kim Klement-USA Today Sports)

Dustin Fowler, CF

Dustin Fowler fits the mold of the ‘Yankee outfield prospect’ in that he is an athletic and toolsy, yet raw player. Fowler, like many other Yankee prospects, was a late round pick, as he was drafted in the 18th round (2013). Where Fowler is unlike many Yankee minor league outfielders is that he has turned his tools into production this season.

Fowler’s rise this year has been impressive, and it isn’t just the numbers that stand out. 2015 has been Fowler’s first full season, as he played in only 30 games after being drafted in 2013, and then just 66 the year after. Despite this lack of experience, Fowler has found success both in Low-A and now in High-A ball.  After slashing .307/.304/.419 with 4 home runs and 18 steals in 58 games at Low-A, he was moved to High-A.  The power is down a bit, with a .388 slugging percentage and only one home run in 60 games, but Fowler is continuing to be active on the base paths with 12 steals and is hitting .299.

One of the caveats with Fowler is his lack of refinement. This has led to a low walk rate in the minor leagues. That being said, Fowler’s improved in that regard as he’s gained experience. Currently sitting at a 6.3% BB-rate, Fowler still has some work to do, but a decent 17.1% K-rate makes his lack of walks easier to swallow.

Fowler’s power has yet to manifest itself this season, but a preview of what he can do is seen in his 2014 production, where he hit nine home runs in just 66 games. Fowler’s well built and has above-average bat speed, so his power may eventually be average-to-above. With the combination of power potential and plus speed (he’s stolen 30 bags this season), as well as a strong bat, Fowler could start to become a real name to watch in the Yankees system over the next couple of years.

Wilkerman Garcia, SS

The Yankees 2014 July 2nd signing class was one of the biggest ever, with the Yankees signing many of the top-rated Latin prospects. There are plenty of names signed by the Yankees with huge potential, and many players have already gotten off to a fast start with the team. One of these players, who might just be the best of the crop, has flown under the radar. Wilkerman Garcia signed for $1.35 million last season out of Venezuela, the 12th largest bonus in the class.  At just 17-years old, he’s already made a significant impression on many scouts.
When Garcia first signed, the switch hitter had what many considered an advanced bat, along with possibly plus speed and a plus arm at shortstop, (he should be able to stick at the position). Already, Garcia had the makings of an impressive prospect.  But now reports are coming in that Garcia’s tools have ticked up a notch since signing. Garcia’s just starting to get broken into professional ball in the Gulf Coast League this season, but he has a very impressive all around package. As with any July 2nd signing, Garcia is light years away from the big leagues, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his name mentioned among elite prospects in a couple of years. In fact, some scouts are already saying that Garcia has more offensive upside than top shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (77-60)

Notable Performances From The Week:
RF Aaron Judge: 3-24, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K
2B Rob Refsnyder: 4-23, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, 5 K
LHP Chaz Hebert: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Trenton Thunder (69-65)

Notable Performances From The Week:
SS Tyler Wade: 7-25, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, 3 K
RHP Eric Ruth: 6.1 IP, 1 R/ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K

Tampa Yankees (65-67)

Notable Performances From The Week:
CF Dustin Fowler: 4-18, 2B, R, 5 RBI, 2 K
3B Miguel Andujar: 2-17, 2B, RBI, 4 BB, 3 K
SS Jorge Mateo: 2-10, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Jonathan Holder: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K
LHP Jordan Montgomery: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 9 K

Charleston RiverDogs (62-71)

Notable Performances From The Week:
2B Billy Fleming: 7-25, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB, 7 K
LHP Justin Kamplain: 6.1 IP, 0 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Staten Island Yankees (36-32)

Notable Performances From The Week:
OF Trey Amburgey: 11-29, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 R, 6 RBI, 3 SB, 2 BB, 5 K
SS Kyle Holder: 6-16, 3 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 K
RHP Domingo Acevedo: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Kolton Mahoney: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K

Pulaski Yankees (44-23)

Notable Performances From The Week:
LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Simon De la Rosa: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 6 K

Gosuke Katoh, 2B:

At the end of 2013, second round pick Gosuke Katoh was the talk of the Yankees farm system. After being drafted that same year, he had an impressive performance in Rookie-Ball, hitting .310/.402/.522 in 50 games. With an advanced bat, average power, plus speed, and good second base defense, Katoh was even being called Robinson Cano’s replacement by some. The next year, Katoh’s hype was all but gone. He hit just .222 with three home runs in 121 games while striking out 30.5 percent of the time. On the bright side, the Yankees were encouraged by his second half improvements, and felt he could rebound in 2015. 

Katoh started this season at Low-A, hoping for a bounce back season. Unfortunately, he performed even worse than last season, hitting .161/.264/.202, also striking out more and walking less. After 39 games of this, he was demoted to his old stomping grounds of Rookie-Ball. He’s currently hitting .297 with a great 145 wRC+ and an improved strikeout rate.

It’s hard to figure out why Katoh, a seemingly advanced bat, was struggling so much in his second go-around at Low-A. His raw tools are still there, yet he can’t touch Low-A pitching. As with many prospects, it is too soon to write him off as another early-round bust, but other than keep Katoh to Rookie-Ball for the third time in four years, there isn’t much for the Yankees to do here. Maybe something clicks, or maybe this stint in Rookie-Ball helps his confidence, but it’s hard to imagine Katoh ever becoming the player the Yankees once hoped he could be.

James Kaprielian, SP

The Yankees took Kaprielian with the highest first round pick they’ve had since 1993. (here’s to hoping he doesn’t turn out like Matt Drews!) Kaprielian took a while to sign, and made his professional debut on Saturday, August 22nd, 75 days after being drafted by the Yankees 16th overall.  The 21-year old threw three perfect innings, striking out 4 and throwing 35 pitches.   Kaprielian is likely to make two or three more starts this season at Short-Season Staten Island before the season is over.

Kaprielian stayed true to his scouting report, sitting at around 92 mph and topping out at 95. Kaprielian also throws a plus curveball, his best pitch, and an average changeup that could turn into an above average pitch. Kaprielian’s pitches don’t look like the typical first round arsenal, but his advanced presence and knowledge on the mound has impressed scouts; he “knows how to pitch”.  

He isn’t the flashiest of first rounders, and certainly has less upside than others, but Kaprielian still belongs as a top pick. The pitcher’s floor is one of the highest in the draft, and he may have a better chance of sticking as a starter than anyone else. Kaprielian’s advanced repertoire and pitchability also gives him an ETA of either late-2016 or 2017, making him quite close to the big leagues for a draft pick. Kaprielian is likely to start next season either in Low-A Charleston or High-A-Tampa, where he will work towards reaching his mid-rotation upside.  

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders

Tuesday:

IronPigs 3, RailRiders 1

Wednesday:

IronPigs 1, RailRiders 2

Thursday:

Red Wings 2, RailRiders 3

Friday:

Red Wings 2, RailRiders 3

Saturday:

Red Wings 5, RailRiders 11

Sunday:

Red Wings 2, RailRiders 4

Monday:

Red Sox 5, RailRiders 1

Notable Performances From The Week:

C Gary Sanchez: 7-26, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, 7 K

RF Aaron Judge: 5-23, 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, SB

2B Rob Refsnyder: 3-24, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K, SB

RHP Brady Lail: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 2 BB 1 K

RHP Kyle Haynes: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Trenton Thunder

Tuesday:

Thunder 3, Baysox 4

Wednesday:

Thunder 6, Baysox 4

Thursday:

Thunder 3, Baysox 7

Friday:

Flying Squirrels 0, Thunder 6

Saturday:

Flying Squirrels 4, Thunder 2

Sunday:

Flying Squirrels 2, Thunder 0

Monday:

RubberDucks 1, Thunder 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Jake Cave: 4-24, 2B, R, BB, 5 K, SB

SS Tyler Wade: 2-16, 2B, 2 R, SB, BB, 4 K

LHP Caleb Smith: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 11 K

RHP Cale Coshow: 5.1 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K

RHP Eric Ruth: 5.2 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K

Tampa Yankees

Wednesday:

Flying Tigers 3, Yankees 2

Flying Tigers 3, Yankees 1

Thursday:

Tortugas 7, Yankees 4

Friday:

Tortugas 8, Yankees 4

Saturday:

Tortugas 1, Yankees 4

Sunday:

Blue Jays 8, Yankees 5

Monday:

Blue Jays 2, Yankees 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 6-25, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB, CS, BB, 4 K

3B Miguel Andujar: 7-23, 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI, 2 SB, BB, 4 K

LHP Chaz Hebert: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K

LHP Dietrich Enns: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K

Charleston RiverDogs

Wednesday:

Braves 0, RiverDogs 1

Braves 1, RiverDogs 5

Thursday:

GreenJackets 1, RiverDogs 5

Friday:

GreenJackets 3, RiverDogs 9

Saturday:

GreenJackets 5, RiverDogs 10

Sunday:

GreenJackets 3, RiverDogs 7

Notable Performances From The Week:

OF Austin Aune: 6-24, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K

LHP Justin Kamplain: 7.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K

RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 9 K

RHP Jordan Foley: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K

Staten Island Yankees

Wednesday:

Yankees  1, IronBirds 2

Saturday:

Yankees 3, Spinners 2

Yankees 3, Spinners 2

Sunday:

Yankees 4, Spinners 0

Monday:

Yankees 4, IronBirds 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

RHP James Kaprielian: 3.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K

RHP Domingo Acevedo: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 10 K

Pulaski Yankees

Tuesday:

Yankees 10, Royals 1

Thursday:

Twins 2, Yankees 4

Friday:

Twins 5, Yankees 4

Saturday:

Twins 3, Yankees 4

Sunday:

Blue Jays 1, Yankees 0

Monday:

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 12

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Carlos Vidal: 4-19, 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K

SS Hoy Jun Park: 3-20, 2B, HR, 5 R, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K

2B Gosuke Katoh: 7-18, 3B, 3 R, SB, 4 BB, 6 K

LHP Nestor Cortes: 5.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 9 K

(Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA Today Sports)

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)

Aaron Judge, RF

Aaron Judge came into 2015 being possibly the first Yankee prospect to be under-hyped by the Yankees fanbase. That quickly changed, though.   It started with photographs that showed the absurd height difference between Judge and his teammates and coaches. Yankee fans truly started to get excited after he hit a game winning home run early in Spring Training. Judge become the talk of Spring Training, and now is one of the best, most recognizable, and most hyped Yankee prospects.  Certainly, much of the hype is warranted. He has some of the biggest raw power in the minor leagues, as well as an above average hit tool and surprising athleticism and defensive value. Judge then proceeded to hit well in his first taste of Double-A, with 12 home runs and a .284/.350/.516 slash line in 63 games, earning a promotion to Triple-A, where he’s held his own. Now the hype machine that is the Yankees fanbase is calling for him to be promoted to the majors.  It’s time to pump the brakes on that idea, though, as Judge isn’t close to ready for a major league look.

The biggest issue for Judge is the strikeout, and he’s been getting punched out about 25% of the time for the past season and a half.  Strikeouts will always be a part of Judge’s game, but for him to really thrive in the majors, he’ll have to cut down on them a bit. On the other end of the spectrum, Judge’s ability to take a walk quite good.  Last season at High-A, he walked a remarkable 17.5% of the time. That being said, his plate discipline took a bit of a nosedive this season, as in Double-A his walk rate was just 8.6%, and in Triple-A it is at 11.9%. It’s naive to expect Judge to walk 17.5% of the time at any level going forward, but for him to be a stud in the majors, he’ll have to keep the walk rate above 10%. A side note on Judge is his batting average on balls in play (BABIP).  In the minors, Judge’s average has been buoyed by a very high BABIP. A high BABIP in the minors isn’t necessarily bad, but it can be a sign of some luck.  That luck has helped to keep his average in a solid range, but his BABIP is currently at .304 in Triple-A, and his average has paid the price and now sits at .243.  This is just another reason why it is vital for Judge to strikeout less. Judge has also shown inconsistent power in Triple-A, slugging just .374 with three home runs.

Judge’s warts as a prospect are currently ones that need to be addressed, but at the same time, they shouldn’t be the death of him as a player.  He should be able to keep the strikeouts under control, while walking at a decent clip, and sustain a solid average with great power. That being said, he needs more seasoning in the minors to meet these expectations.  To expect him to contribute in the big leagues this season is unreasonable. Judge has the tools to turn into a beast.  That said, he’s just not ready to be that player yet, and conservatively may not be until mid-2016. 

Kyle Holder, SS

The Yankees search for the “next Derek Jeter” (heavy sarcasm) brought them to the 2015 MLB first player draft, as they took Kyle Holder with the 30th overall pick.  The Yankees must have seen something in the 21-year old, but they’re the only ones that seem to be bullish on Holder.  At the plate, there’s not much to like.  He brings below average bat speed to the table, along with a poor swing path and bad pitch recognition.  It also appears that Holder has very little power, and the previously mentioned swing path will sap what little pop he does have.    

All in all, the overall package doesn’t look like a starting major leaguer.  There isn’t a ton to like about Holder’s game, but he isn’t all doom and gloom. Firstly, Holder’s defense is very good. It may not be elite, but he likely had the best glove in the draft and should be a lock to stick at shortstop.  Initially, Holder’s bat hasn’t shown much promise, but he’s less experienced in baseball compared to other 2015 draftees, having been heavily involved in basketball until recently. Also, Holder was just drafted and is only beginning his professional career. It’s impossible to accurately gauge a player’s value this early in his career, especially considering all the outside forces that could be affecting Holder. With that in mind, it’s pointless to label Holder a poor pick or a bust, but for now, Holder’s tools and total skill set don’t look all that promising for a first round pick.

Jonathan Holder, SP

Jonathan Holder, unrelated to Kyle Holder but possibly related to Kenny Powers, is yet another example of a Yankee pitcher that was picked later in the draft, has little hype or pedigree, yet is putting up outstanding numbers in the minor leagues. Holder was drafted in the 6th round in 2014 after closing out games for Mississippi State.  He was promptly turned into a starter by the Yankees, and has been lights out. Even though Holder closed in college, he has a starter’s arsenal, with his best pitches being a curveball and cutter, along with an average splitter. After posting a 3.03 ERA in 32.2 innings (seven starts) last season in Low-A, Holder was promoted to High-A to start 2015. He clearly grew as a starting pitcher in the offseason, finding even more success at High-A, with a 2.58 ERA (2.29 FIP) in 73.1 innings (13 starts). Holder’s only speed bump so far has been an injury that put him on the disabled list this season. Other than that, he has struck out batters at a decent clip (7.25 K/9 in 2015 and 8.27 last year), and has limited his free passes to just 11, (remember, in 13 starts) all of this year. Holder is still a relative unknown as a prospect, but he’s another interesting name to watch in this system as he moves up the minor league ladder.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders

Friday:

Clippers 2, RailRiders 3

Saturday:

Clippers 5, RailRiders 4

Sunday:

Clippers 3, RailRiders 4

Tuesday:

RailRiders 4, Clippers 6

Wednesday:

RailRiders 7, Clippers 2

Thursday:

RailRiders 6, Clippers 7

Notable Performances From The Week:

1B Greg Bird: 9-23, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 5 K

C Gary Sanchez: 7-21, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 0 BB, 7 K

RF Aaron Judge: 2-23, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB, BB, 14 K
2B Rob Refsnyder: 6-21, 2 2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI, CS, 2 BB, 6 K

Trenton Thunder

Friday:

Thunder 2, Baysox 4

Saturday:

Thunder 6, Baysox 4

Sunday:

Thunder 5, Baysox 6

Tuesday:

Fightin Phils 7, Thunder 1

Wednesday:

Fightin Phils 11, Thunder 1

Thursday:

Fightin Phils 8, Thunder 1

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Jake Cave: 8-23, 2 2B, 4 R, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K

SS Tyler Wade: 2-22, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K

RHP Eric Ruth: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, K—3.1 IP, 8 R/ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 2 K

Tampa Yankees

Friday:

Marauders 5, Yankees 4

Marauders 5, Yankees 3

Sunday:

Marauders 2, Yankees 5

Marauders 10, Yankees 5

Tuesday:

Yankees 4, Marauders 3

Wednesday:

Yankees 4, Marauders 5

Thursday:

Yankees 1, Marauders 2

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 6-22, 2 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 SB, 1 CS, 2 BB, 9 K

CF Dustin Fowler: 8-25, 2 2B, HR, 4 R, 5 RBI, BB, 4 K

3B Miguel Andujar: 7-21, 2 B, 3 R, 4 RBI, SB, 4 K

RHP Rookie Davis: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K

RHP Cale Coshow: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Charleston RiverDogs

Friday:
RiverDogs 0, Shorebirds 0

Saturday:

RiverDogs 4, Shorebirds 3

Sunday:

RiverDogs 1, Shorebirds 3

Tuesday:

RiverDogs 7, Suns 2

Wednesday:

RiverDogs 7, Suns 4

Notable Performances From The Week:

RHP Joey Maher: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 K

Staten Island Yankees

Friday:

IronBirds 4, Yankees 8

Saturday:

IronBirds 7, Yankees 5

Sunday:

IronBirds 5, Yankees 8

Monday:

Yankees 8, Lake Monsters 3

Tuesday:

Yankees 3, Lake Monsters 2

Wednesday:

Yankees 4, Lake Monsters 9

Thursday:

Renegades 4, Yankees 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Kyle Holder: 4-24, 5 R, 3 BB, 5 K

CF Jeff Hendrix: 9-24, 3 2B, 5 R, 2 RBI, 3 K

RHP Domingo Acevedo: 4.1 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Pulaski Yankees

Friday:

Yankees 3, Rays 4

Saturday:

Rays 3, Yankees 1

Sunday:

Rays 3, Yankees 9

Tuesday:

Yankees 2, Royals 3

Wednesday:

Yankees 8, Royals 5

Thursday:

Yankees 0, Royals 1

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Carlos Vidal: 5-21, 3B, HR, 6 R, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K, 2 SB

RHP Davis Palladino: 7.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K

RHP Melvin Morla: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K

RHP Jhon Morban: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K

(Photo: Kim Klement-USA Today Sports)

Jorge Mateo:

In a deadline for the ages, the Yankees have been relatively quiet (so far!). This can partially be attributed to the Yankees unwillingness to part with their top four prospects. Everyone knows about the potential ace, Luis Severino, the towering Aaron Judge, and Greg Bird, widely recognized as the best pure hitter in the system. That leaves the fourth “untouchable” prospect. The one that’s still in Low-A ball, only 20 years old, and unlike any player in the Yankees system. I’m talking about minor league stolen base leader Jorge Mateo.

It’s not too often that a prospect has an 80 tool, which is what makes Mateo so special. His speed is a top of the scale 80, and he’s used that talent to steal 70 bases (84 tries) in 2015. Mateo’s not a one trick pony, though, and while his other tools aren’t quire as exciting, they are certainly enough to make Mateo a big-time prospect.

If he wants to be a prolific base stealer, Mateo will have to make consistent contact and get on base at a reasonable clip. Luckily for him, Mateo’s bat could eventually be above average. The power outlook isn’t as rosy, and Mateo only has two home runs this season with a his slugging percentage of .384. That being said, he has more pop than he’s shown and could eventually approach double digit home runs.

Scouts are split on Mateo’s future at shortstop, and he has 21 errors on the season. He could eventually be an average defender there, but to expect much more would be reaching. That being said, if Mateo can stick at shortstop and reach his potential of a 55 bat and 45+ power, we could be looking at a first-division player, and even an occasional All-Star. 

Ben Gamel:

In seasons past, the Yankees system has had many more notable failures than successes. Luckily this year we’ve seen excellent progression in the system: not just with the high profile names, but also with some fringe prospects. Ben Gamel, younger brother of ex-MLB’er Mat Gamel, is one of those under-the-radar players. Gamel was seen as a possible fourth outfielder going into 2015, but he’s torn up Triple-A this season.

As you can tell, Gamel is recording career highs in almost every single stat this year by huge margins.  Even more remarkable, though, is that he is doing this in his first go-around at  Triple-A.  So what’s going on?  To start, he has an inflated BABIP (.346).  It isn’t an absurd number, though, and based on that stat alone, his numbers aren’t a fluke.  In fact, often a high BABIP in the minors can be indicative of a player simply hitting the ball harder, not just getting lucky.  Gamel’s walk rate is up to 8.4% from 6.1% last year.  This isn’t huge news, but it’s good to see him walking a bit more.  His K% is up 3.3% to 18.3%.  That rate isn’t ideal, but it won’t kill him in the future, and a slightly altered plate approach could be responsible for more power and more strikeouts. 

It would take an in-game look to see if Gamel’s tools have truly ticked up, but from a numbers standpoint, Gamel looks like he has a solid MLB future.  He is hitting for much more power this season (6 HR doesn’t sound like much, but it equals his 2013 and 2014 seasons combined), and has also stolen 8 bases on the year. His ceiling is obviously not that high, but 10 HR and 15 SB with a .270+ average isn’t out of the question, especially with his left handed swing in Yankee Stadium. Yes, that stat line is the absolute best case scenario, but it could result in a second-division starting outfielder.  Considering that he was previously considered to have fourth outfielder upside, this has been a big step forward for Gamel.

Carlos Vidal:

If you’ve been reading these minor league updates, you’ve probably noticed one name show up every single time in Rookie Ball.  Carlos Vidal, 19 years old out of Lorica, Colombia, has been doing some interesting stuff for the Pulaski Yankees this season. After hitting .361 with one home run, 13 doubles, 7 triples, 13 stolen bases (12 caught stealing), and 42 BB to 32 K’s in the Dominican Summer League, Vidal is at it again.

He’s crushed five home runs already in just 33 games, with 11 doubles (alas, no triples), and has 13 stolen bases to three caught stealing.  His prodigious plate discipline is…well, no longer prodigious, and he has a 15 to 28 BB/K ratio. But, Vidal is also hitting .312.  There’s basically no information out there on Vidal, but he’s flashed some interesting tools early on in his career and is worth keeping an eye on. 

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders

Friday:

Mud Hens 3, RailRiders 9

Saturday:

Mud Hens 2, RailRiders 10

Sunday:

Mud Hens 1, RailRiders 2

Monday:

IronPigs 3, RailRiders 1

Tuesday:

IronPigs 3, RailRiders 5

Wednesday:

RailRiders 9 , IronPigs 4

Thursday:

RailRiders 3, IronPigs 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

CF Ben Gamel: 10-24, 3 3B, HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K

2B Rob Refsnyder: 6-26, 2 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, BB, 6 K

1B Greg Bird: 5-26, 2B, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, BB, 4 K

2B/LF Jose Pirela: 8-21, 3 2B, 4 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB, K

RHP Bryan Mitchell: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 5 H, BB, 7 K

RHP Luis Severino: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, H, 10 K—5.0 IP, 3 R/ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Trenton Thunder

Friday:
Mets 2, Thunder 1

Saturday:

Mets 0, Thunder 3

Sunday:

Mets 8, Thunder 0

Monday:

Sea Dogs 2, Thunder 3

Tuesday:

Sea Dogs 1, Thunder 2

Wednesday:

Sea Dogs 2, Thunder 4

Thursday:

Thunder 3, Baysox 4

Notable Performances from the Week:

LF Danny Oh: 8-21, 2B, 4 R, SB, 2 BB, 2 K

LHP Caleb Smith: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, BB, 3 K—5.2 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K

RHP Brady Lail: 9.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K—6.0 IP, 4 R/ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Tampa Yankees

Friday:

Stone Crabs 2, Yankees 0

Saturday:

Stone Crabs 3, Yankees 0

Sunday:

Yankees 2, Manatees 0

Tuesday:

Yankees 2, Manatees 5

Yankees 2, Manatees 3

Wednesday:

Miracle 2, Yankees 6

Thursday:

Miracle 7, Yankees 4

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Abiatel Avelino: 6-26, 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB, 2 BB, 6 K

3B Miguel Andujar: 6-20, 2 2B, 2 R, BB, 4 K

RHP Cale Coshow: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Charleston RiverDogs

Friday:

Shorebirds 7, RiverDogs 8

Saturday:

Drive 2, RiverDogs 7

Sunday:

Drive 10, RiverDogs 2

Monday:

Drive 5, RiverDogs 3

Tuesday:

Drive 1, RiverDogs 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 4-19, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 4 SB, BB, 4 K

RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 6.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 K

RHP Joey Maher: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 K

RHP Jordan Foley: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Staten Island Yankees

Friday:
Yankees 5, Black Bears 7

Saturday:

Yankees 0, Black Bears 3

Sunday:

Yankees 3, Black Bears 4

Tuesday:

Muckdogs 5, Yankees 3

Wednesday:

Muckdogs 3, Yankees 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

CF Jeff Hendrix: 3-12, 3 R, 3 SB, 3 BB, 2 K

RHP Kolten Mahoney: 4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K

RHP Matt Borens: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Pulaski Yankees

Friday:

Pirates 6, Yankees 16

Saturday:

Pirates 12, Yankees 6

Sunday:

Pirates 5, Yankees 13

Monday:

Pirates 5, Yankees 7

Tuesday:

Mets 9, Yankees 14

Wednesday:

Mets 10, Yankees 4

Thursday:

Mets 2, Yankees 4

Notable Performances from the Week:

CF Carlos Vidal: 12-28, 2 2B, HR, 5 R, 15 RBI, 5 SB, 4 BB, 2 K

SS Hoy Jun Park: 5-17, 2B, 7 R, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 6 K

1B  Kane Sweeney: 8-19, 2 2B, 3B, 7 R, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K

(Photo: Kevin Jairaj-USA Today Sports)

Greg Bird (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)

Bird had a rough start to his Triple-A career, going 11 for his first 47 at-bats (.234 average). Luckily, his talent won out, and the first baseman has a .375 average over his past 10 games, with three home runs and a double. The jump from Double-A to Triple-A is a big one, so it’s very encouraging to see Bird adjust to the next level so quickly. Bird’s not going to continue hitting .375, but his bat is at least a 55, and hitting around .280-plus at the highest level is possible. He struck out just 14.2 percent of the time in Double-A this season, and if that trend continues in Triple-A (currently at 21.4 percent), we could be looking at a serious big-league option by fall. 

At the plate, Bird isn’t a whole lot different than Aaron Judge in terms of in-game tools. This statement may sound ridiculous, but despite the difference in raw power (Judge easily has 70-plus raw to Bird’s 65-ish), the game power doesn’t have much of a gap. Both prospects also have above-average bats as well, with Bird having a better approach at the plate. Bird’s not going to give much value on defense (he’s a first baseman) and doesn’t run well, which is why one of these two players is a consensus top-50 prospect and the other isn’t. That being said, Bird should be able to rake at the plate, hitting for average while getting on base and possibly hitting 25 or more home runs at his peak. He’s without a spot on the big-league club now, though, with Teixeira mashing at first base and A-Rod mashing at DH, but he’s an injury away from being called up.

Greg Bird’s third home run in Triple-A on Wednesday.

Hoy Jun Park (Rookie-League Pulaski)

Our first July 2nd prospect of this series, Park was the only non-Latin signing the Yankees came away with last season. Park is only in Rookie Ball, but he’s flashing his tools already. A great 12 percent walk rate has allowed him to be active on the base paths, and his eight steals in just 24 games back up his plus speed. He’s hitting .264, but has made plenty of contact and the 19-year-old is far from overmatched. In the field, he has the tools to stick at shortstop and be a solid defender. 

Park doesn’t project to reach double-digit home runs, but he does have a swing conducive for power, and if the 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect adds more muscle, he could have average power. Park doesn’t have a flashy profile, but the overall product is something to get excited about. He is at least three years away from the big leagues, but is more polished than most 19-year-olds and a serious name to watch in this system. 

Rookie Davis (High-A Tampa)

Today in Yankee pitching prospects with great numbers who may not be overachieving: Rookie Davis. Davis has a 3.10 ERA, 2.04 FIP, and most impressively, a 10.10 K/9 and 1.60 BB/9. Davis has come out of nowhere to be dominant at High-A, and his stuff supports the numbers. 

Featuring a mid-90s fastball with a curveball and changeup, the big man has also spotted his pitches incredibly well, allowing him dominate the opposition. But, Davis is 22 and old for his current level. He may just be a late bloomer, as the 14th-round draft pick in 2011 threw just 69 innings in his first two seasons with the club and lacked polish. Something’s clicked with the right hander, (his K/9 didn’t go from 7.57 in low-A to 10.10 in High-A in one year because it felt like it), and Davis could now be a fast mover. Moving to Double-A later this season is certainly possible, and if he continues to put up good numbers, we could be looking at a “legit” pitching prospect.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (53-47)

Friday:

RailRiders 4, Bats 1

Saturday:

RailRiders 3, Bats 6

Sunday:

RailRiders 7, Bats 1

Monday:

RailRiders 0, Indians 5

Tuesday:

RailRiders 2, Indians 3

Wednesday:

RailRiders 10, Indians 5

Thursday:
RailRiders 2, Indians 1

Notable Performances from the Week:

C Gary Sanchez: 6-19 (.316), 2B, HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, SB, 3 BB, 3 K

1B Greg Bird: 11-27 (.407), HR, 4 R, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K

2B/LF Jose Pirela: 10-28 (.357), 2B, 8 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB, 4 BB, 3 K

LF Aaron Judge: Has not played, out with “just day to day stuff.”

RHP Diego Moreno: 4.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 0 H, BB, 2 K, 53 pitches—4.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 53 pitches

Trenton Thunder (52-45)

Friday:

Thunder 3, Mets 6

Saturday:

Thunder 2, Mets 3

Sunday:

Thunder 4, Mets 9

Monday:

Thunder 4, Sea Dogs 5

Tuesday:

Thunder 2, Sea Dogs 3

Wednesday:

Thunder 5, Sea Dogs 1

Thursday:

Thunder 5, Sea Dogs 1

Notable Performances from the Week:

3B/SS Cito Culver: 3-18 (.167), 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 8 K

LF Taylor Dugas: 8-17 (.471), 3 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, 2 BB, 2 K

RHP Danny Burawa: 4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, BB, 7 K, 61 pitches—4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 61 pitches

Tampa Yankees (47-50)

Friday:

Stone Crabs 2, Yankees 0

Saturday:

Stone Crabs 3, Yankees 0

Sunday:

Yankees 2, Manatees 0

Tuesday:

Yankees 2, Manatees 5

Yankees 2, Manatees 3

Wednesday:

Miracle 2, Yankees 6

Thursday:

Miracle 7, Yankees 4

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Tyler Wade: 7-24 (.292), 3B, RBI, 2 SB, CS, BB, 2 K

RHP Rookie Davis: 8.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K

RHP Vincente Campos: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, BB, 6 K

RHP Cale Coshow: 4.2 IP, 0 R/ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K

Charleston RiverDogs (43-54)

Friday:

RiverDogs 6, Sand Gnats 2

Saturday:

RiverDogs 3, Sand Gnats 6

Sunday:

RiverDogs 1, Sand Gnats 4

Monday:

RiverDogs 1, Savannah 2

Tuesday:
Shorebirds 2, RiverDogs 0

Wednesday:

Shorebirds 2, RiverDogs 0

Thursday:

Miracle 2, Yankees 6

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 8-22 (.364), 3 2B, 4 R, 6 SB, 3 BB, 4 K

RHP Joey Maher: 4.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 5 H, 3 K, 61 pitches—5.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K

RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 3.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 47 pitches

Staten Island Yankees (19-13)

Friday:

Cyclones 4, Yankees 3

Saturday:

Spinners 1, Yankees 3

Sunday:

Spinners 3, Yankees 4

Monday:

Spinners 4, Yankees 5

Tuesday:

Yankees 4, Scrappers 5

Wednesday:

Yankees 1, Scrappers 2

Thursday:

Yankees 12, Scrappers 4

Notable Performances from the Week:

LF Zack Zehner: 5-28 (.179), 2B, 2 HR, 6 R, 5 RBI, SB, 5 BB, 5 K

CF Jeff Hendrix: 5-27 (.185), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 10 K

LHP Derek Callahan: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K

RHP Kolten Mahoney: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K—6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Pulaski Yankees (17-13)

Friday:

Royals 3, Yankees 7

Saturday:

Yankees 0, Rays 1

Sunday:

Yankees 4, Rays 5

Monday:

Yankees 10, Rays 4

Tuesday:

Yankees 2, Mets 5

Wednesday:

Yankees 6, Mets 5

Thursday:

Yankees 2, Mets 5

Notable Performances from the Week:

C Austin Afendir: 12-31 (.387), 5 2B, 2 R, 7 RBI, 8 K

CF Carlos Vidal: 7-25 (.280), 2 2B, 5 R, RBI 2 SB, 3 BB, 3 K

RHP Melvin Morla: 6.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K

LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 6 K–4.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K

RHP Simon De la Rosa: 5.2 IP, 1 R/ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Lead photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Cave (Double-A Trenton)

Considered by some to be the Rodney Dangerfield of the Yankees farm system, Cave is again producing without much fanfare in 2015. Cave’s seen an encouraging cut in strikeout rate from 22.3 percent last season to 16 percent this year as he adjusts to Double-A pitchers. He is running more as well, already tying his 2014 SB total of 12. Cave is also making more contact at the plate, and has seen his average climb to .280 on the season with a .346 OBP. With a reasonable walk rate and very solid K-rate, there’s really only one big weakness with Cave: he has just two home runs this season. Cave’s not making enough hard contact at the plate, shown in a paltry .356 SLG.   

Considering that he does everything decently, but lacks a carrying tool, if Cave doesn’t hit for more power, he’s not going to be a major league regular. Should more power come along though (and this is certainly possible, his frame is conducive for a weight and power increase), Cave stands a chance at being a second-division starting center fielder. Without more power, Cave is probably a very useful fourth-outfielder, and for a late sixth round pick, that’s certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Brady Lail (Double-A Trenton)

It’s not often that an 18th round (577th overall) pick in the rule-4 draft amounts to much, but Brady Lail certainly looks like he could be an outlier. Lail has a 2.21 ERA this season at Double-A. The 21-year old has an awfully interesting arsenal as well. His best pitch is a cutter that has 55/60 potential, with Lail also utilizing two other solid fastballs, a two-seamer and four-seamer. If three different fastballs weren’t enough, Lail’s also got a slightly below average, but usable, changeup, and a 50+ curveball. He’s not a pitcher with much upside—his K/9 is just 5.70 this season—but Lail has a unique arm and, as with Jake Cave, you can’t argue with the results. The 6’ 2” righty has the look of a very solid innings-eater out of the back of the rotation, think Mike Leake, if he can develop his secondary pitches just a bit more. 

Tyler Wade (High-A Tampa)

Last year, when Derek Jeter retired, Yankee fans made a mad dash to name a prospect the “Next Great Yankee Shortstop.” Ignoring the fact that this kind of search would only work if the Yankees had a player named Carlos Correa, New Yorkers settled on the speedy Jorge Mateo as the Yankees shortstop of the future. Mateo is pretty awesome, but what if he has to move off of the position? Or what if his speed can’t make up for his lack of power? Believe it or not, Mateo isn’t the only potential starting shortstop in the Yankees system. Tyler Wade is also a “guy,” as scouts say.   

To start, Wade has as good a chance as any shortstop in High-A to stick at the position. He has plus speed too, evidenced by his 29 stolen bases this season. Wade’s not going to hit for power, but he has gap power and isn’t exactly a pushover at 6’1”. Wade also has a good feel for hitting, with an impressive .297 average and a .363 OBP as a 20 year old in High-A. He doesn’t have as much upside as Mateo, but Wade is the safer play and has the tools to be an average starting shortstop at the major league level.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders

Friday:

RailRiders 4, Bisons 5

Saturday:

RailRiders 4, Bisons 5

Sunday:

RailRiders 8, Bisons 1

Thursday:

RailRiders 8, Bats 7

Notable Performances from the Week:

CF Ben Gamel: 6-18 (.333), 2 2B, 6 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K

RF Aaron Judge: 2-8 (.250), HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

1B Greg Bird: 4-15 (.267), 2 HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K

RHP Luis Severino: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, H, BB, 4 K, 64 pitches

Trenton Thunder

Friday:

Flying Squirrels 2, Thunder 3

Saturday:

Flying Squirrels 5, Thunder 4

Sunday:

Flying Squirrels 1, Thunder 2

Monday:

Flying Squirrels 1, Thunder 7

Thursday:

Thunder 3, Mets 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Ali Castillo: 6-22 (.273), R, 3 RBI, 4 SB, 5 K

CF Jake Cave: 2-20 (.100), R, RBI, SB, 2 BB, 3 K

C Gary Sanchez: 2-9 (.222), 2B, R, K

2B Tony Renda: 9-19 (.474), 2 2B, 6 R, RBI, 2 SB, BB, K

RHP Brady Lail: 7.2 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 93 pitches

RHP Jaron Long: 6.0 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 6 H, BB, 3 K, 93 pitches

LHP Matt Tracy: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, BB, 3 K, 70 pitches

LHP Caleb Smith: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, BB, 3 K, 75 pitches

Tampa Yankees

Friday:

Yankees 4, Cardinals 5

Saturday:

Yankees 3, Cardinals 1

Sunday:

Yankees 3, Cardinals 2

Monday:

Yankees 2, Cardinals 5

Wednesday:

Stone Crabs 4, Yankees 6

Thursday:
Stone Crabs 1, Yankees 5

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Tyler Wade: 8-22 (.364), 2B, 4 R, RBI, SB, BB, 3 K

SS Abiatal Avelino: 4-17 (.235), 2B, 3B, 5 R, 2 RBI, BB, K

3B Miguel Andujar: 5-19 (.263), 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

RHP Rookie Davis: 7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K

LHP Dietrich Enns: 4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, BB, 4 K

RHP Vicente (Apparently Jose goes by his middle name now?) Campos: 4.0 IP, 4 R/ER, 5 H, BB, 2 K

RHP Gabriel Encinas: 0.2 IP, 3 R/ER, H, 5 BB, K—7.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, BB, 6 K, 94 pitches

RHP Cale Coshow: 5.2 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, BB, 5 K, 85 pitches

Charleston RiverDogs

Friday:

Intimidators 12, RiverDogs 6

Saturday:

Intimidators 4, RiverDogs 7

Sunday:

Intimidators 12, RiverDogs 2

Wednesday:

RiverDogs 10, Braves 5

Thursday:
RiverDogs 0, Braves 3

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 5-13 (.385), 7 R, 2 RBI, 4 SB, 5 BB, 0 K

1B Leonard Thompson: 4-17, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 3 BB, 2 K

LHP Justin Kamplain: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 92 pitches

Staten Island Yankees

Friday:

Yankees 3, IronBirds 6

Saturday:
Yankees 3, Doubledays 1

Sunday:

Yankees 7, Doubledays 3

Monday:

Yankees 7, Doubledays 10

Wednesday:

Cyclones 2, Yankees 3

Thursday:

Yankees 1, Cyclones 0

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Kyle Holder: 7-26 (.269), 2 R, BB, CS,  5 K

RHP Luis Cedeno: 6.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 61 pitches

RHP Yoel Espinal: 4.0 IP, 0 R/ER, H, 5 BB, 2 K, 70 pitches

RHP Kolten Mahoney: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, BB, 7 K, 80 pitches

Pulaski Yankees

Friday:

Rays 4, Yankees 6

Saturday:

Yankees 9, Astros 3

Sunday:

Yankees 2, Astros 5

Monday:

Yankees 0, Astros 5

Wednesday:

Royals 3, Yankees 5

Thursday:

Royals 3, Yankees 10

Notable Performances from the Week:

SS Hoy Jun Park: 5-21 (.238), 2 2B, HR, 6 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB, 5 BB, 5 K

LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, BB, 4 K

RHP Simon De la Rosa: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K

(Photo: Jonathan Dyer-USA Today Sports)

Gary Sanchez, C (Double-A Trenton Thunder)

Sanchez had one of the best five-day stretches of any player in the minor leagues this past week. Since last Friday, the catching prospect has gone 11-for-24 (.458 BA) with two doubles, four home runs, seven runs, and seven RBI which has lifted his average to .268 on the year. He also now has 12 home runs with a 488 slugging percentage and .814 OPS.  If we’re going to nitpick though, the one adverse effect of this newfound power approach is that Sanchez’ walk rate is down to 7.3 percent. That could indicate future issues if he doesn’t learn to maintain the plate discipline.

A major factor in Sanchez’s future value is his ability to stick behind the plate. The odds aren’t in his favor to remain behind the plate, but he has made marked improvements. After allowing 10 passed balls in 93 games last season, only two have gotten by him in 50 games this year and his caught-stealing percentage continues to be an above-average 37 percent. Sanchez’ bat should play anywhere on the diamond, but for him to be an above-average (or better) position player in the major leagues, he’ll have to stick behind the plate. He’ll head to the Future’s Game next week and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him called up to Triple-A soon after that.

Jose Campos, RHP (High-A Tampa Yankees)

It appears that Campos stands a chance to be the rare exception that climbs his way out of that deep, dark abyss which has claimed all too many once-highly touted Yankees prospects (Ravel Santana, Andrew Brackman…are you in there???).  He was one of the components coming back in the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda trade and was viewed as an extremely high-ceiling, strikeout pitcher with an electric arm. He suffered a fracture in his elbow and though he seemed as if he was going to come back healthy, in the end, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2014.

His rehab went well and, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, was “averaging about 92 mph and pitching in the mid-90s when he [needed] it” during last Friday’s start.  Campos lost a ton of development time and still has a ways to go, but keep in mind that he is just 22 years old and still may be capable of an impact in the big leagues.

Cale Coshow, RHP (High-A Tampa Yankees)

The 13th round draft pick in 2013 has shifted between starter and reliever while in the system, but is currently in the rotation for the Tampa Yanks. Cale is not exactly a picture of ideal health at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds (maybe a diet of kale would help), but he has had success as a starter in the short term.

Throwing a fastball that can reach the high 90’s, Coshow has allowed just 12 hits and four runs in his first four starts at High-A (20.1 innings).  Although the big man probably isn’t the second coming of CC Sabathia and is likely projected better as a reliever for the long-term, he may also have some untapped potential. He’s a wildcard and the Yankees still need to see what the righty is capable of doing in an extended stretch as a starter. He’ll be an interesting name to keep an eye on as the year progresses.

Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (47-42)

Friday:

RailRiders 4, Red Sox 0

Saturday:

Bisons 4, RailRiders 2

Sunday:

Bisons 0, RailRiders 2

Bisons 6, RailRiders 4

Monday:

Bisons 6, RailRiders 2

Tuesday:

Chiefs 1, RailRiders 5

Wednesday:
Chiefs 6, Railriders 4

Thursday:

Chiefs 5, RailRiders 2

Notable Performances from the Week:

1B Greg Bird: 5-23 (.217), 2 2B, 2 BB, 6 K

2B Rob Refsnyder: 11-28 (.393), 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 7 BB, 3 K

3B Cole Figueroa: 11-22 (.500), 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, K

CF Ben Gamel: 8-31 (.258), 2 2B, 3B, 4 R, 5 RBI, SB, 3 K

RF Aaron Judge: 6-27 (.353), R, RBI, 3 BB, 7 K 

RHP Joel De La Cruz: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 1 K, 53 pitches

RHP Luis Severino: 4.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 85 pitches

Trenton Thunder (47-39)

Friday:

Curve 4, Thunder 10

Saturday:

Thunder 9, Fightin Phils 2

Sunday:

Thunder 14, Fightin Phils 2

Monday:

Thunder 4, Fightin Phils 6

Tuesday:

Thunder 8, Fisher Cats 6

Wednesday:

Thunder 3, Fisher Cats 7

Thursday:

Thunder 1, Fisher Cats 2

Notable Performances From The Week:

C Gary Sanchez: 12-28 (.429), 3 2B, 4 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K

SS Ali Castillo: 9-26 (.346), 2 2B, 6 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB, CS, 5 BB, 5 K

CF Jake Cave: 11-27 (.407), 2B, 8 R, 6 RBI, SB, BB, 5 K

RHP Brady Lail: 6.1 IP, 2 R/ER, 3 H, 3 BB, K, 90 pitches

RHP Eric Ruth: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K, 98 pitches—7.0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 H, BB, 4 K, 93 pitches

Tampa Yankees (41-43)

Friday:

Yankees 0, Threshers 3

Saturday:

Tortugas 0, Yankees 2

Sunday:

Tortugas 4, Yankees 5

Monday:

Tortugas 6, Yankees 7

Tuesday:

Manatees 4, Yankees 6

Wednesday:

Manatees 10, Yankees 2

Thursday:

Manatees 5, Yankees 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

2B/SS Tyler Wade: 10-21 (.476), 2B, 3B, 4 R, 2 CS (2 PO), 5 BB

CF Dustin Fowler: 6-21 (.286), 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 SB, CS, 2 BB, 4 K

RF Michael O’Neill: 6-21 (.286), 2B, HR, 3 R, 6 RBI, CS, 3 K

RHP Jose Campos: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K—1.2 IP, 8 R/ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 50 pitches

RHP Cale Coshow: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 7 K, 83 pitches—5.0 IP, 5 R/ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 65 pitches

Charleston RiverDogs (40-45)

Friday:

RiverDogs 5, Tourists 3

Saturday:

Braves 1, RiverDogs 0

Sunday:

Braves 4, RiverDogs 2

Monday:

Braves 1, RiverDogs 0

Tuesday:

Braves 2, RiverDogs 3

Wednesday:

Intimidators 2, RiverDogs 0

Thursday:

Intimidators 0, RiverDogs 1

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Jorge Mateo: 6-20 (.300), 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 SB, 3 CS (2 PO), 4 BB, 3 K

2B/SS Vincente Conde: 5-22 (.227), 2 2B, 2 R, 2 SB, CS, 1 BB, 3 K

RHP Matt Marsh: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 66 pitches (rain shortened outing)

LHP Justin Kamplain: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 89 pitches

RHP Matt Wotherspoon: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, H, 3 BB, 6 K, 89 pitches

LHP Rony Bautista: 5.0 IP, 3 ER/R, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 K, 86 pitches—5.2 IP, 1 R/ER, H, 7 BB, 5 K, 86 pitches

RHP Jordan Foley: 5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K, 75 pitches

Staten Island Yankees (11-8)

Friday:

Yankees 5, IronBirds 1

Saturday:

Renegades 3, Yankees 1

Sunday:

Renegades 2, Yankees 3

Monday:

Renegades 7, Yankees 5

Wednesday:

Yankees 5, IronBirds 3

Notable Performances From The Week:

SS Kyle Holder: 2-20 (.100), 2B, R, 2 BB, 2 K

2B/ SS Thairo Estrada: 6-15 (.400), 2 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB, K

LF Griffin Gordon: 8-18 (.444), 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 3 K

RHP Kolten Mahoney: 4.2 IP, 1 R/ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 55 pitches

RHP Domingo Acevedo: 5.0 IP, 1 R/ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 63 pitches

RHP Luis Cedeno: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 75 pitches

Pulaski Yankees (5-6)

Friday:

Yankees 4, Blue Jays 2

Saturday:

Blue Jays 4, Yankees 7

Sunday:

Braves 4, Yankees 6

Monday:

Braves 1, Yankees 2

Tuesday:

Braves 6, Yankees 4

Wednesday:

Yankees 6, Rays 3

Thursday:

Yankees 6, Rays 0

Notable Performances From The Week:

CF Carlos Vidal: 11-31 (.355), 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI, 2 SB, 2 CS, 2 BB, 12 K

2B Gosuke Katoh: 6-22 (.273), 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 8 K

LHP Nestor Cortes: 6.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K

RHP Adonis Rosa: 5.0 IP, 2 R/ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 7 K—5.0 IP, 0 R/ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K

(Photo: Kim Klement-USA Today Sports)