Top 10 Yankee Prospects Revised

The Yankees traded their top prospect, Jesus Montero, late last week for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos.  That has reordered the top prospect list for the Yankees so I figured I would publish a new, updated one.  I’m no expert but here goes anyway:

1.  Manny Banuelos, LHP – His stats from last year, 6-7, 3.75ERA, 129.2IP, 71BB, 125K, .266BAA, are not exactly great.  His walks were way up.  He began the year with a nice showing in Spring Training and ended the year at AAA Scranton.  He projects as a top of the rotation starter and nothing has changed.  He should be ready for the big leagues next year.  This year he will fine-tune his repertoire in Scranton.  It is possible the Yankees promote him, either a spot start due to injury to their rotation or later in the year as a September call-up.  He will be 21 in March so there is no need to rush him.

2.  Dellin Betances, RHP – Like Banuelos, Betances’ walks were up big time last year.  His stats from AA and AAA last year, 4-9, 3.70ERA, 126.1IP, 70BB, 142K, .217BAA, are pretty solid, except for the walks.  If he learns to control the zone he could be an amazing pitcher.  His batting average against is superb, as is his strikeout rate.  It’s the walks that have been a problem with Betances.  He got his taste of the Major Leagues last year and struggled a little.  It is hard to expect a lot from a kid who is just going to be 24 years old in March.  Like Banuelos, the Yankees don’t feel like they need to rush him.  He will spend the year at AAA and should make another cameo.  

3.  Gary Sanchez, C – I believe the attitude problems that he exhibited last year are behind him.  He is very young and expects to be great.  When he struggled last year he became frustrated and reacted poorly.  The Yankees handled him correctly and he came back mashing.  He could very easily vault to the number one slot on this list by next year if he has a good year. He managed to hit .256, 17 homers, 26 doubles, and drive in 52 runs.  His defense isn’t that great and is a work in progress, kind of like Montero.  However, the Yankees feel confident now that he will take to catching and at least be serviceable.  I also said the same about Montero.  I wouldn’t be shocked if he made it to Single A Tampa this season.  He’ll probably start at Low-A Charleston but could easily move up.  He is still just 19 years-old.

4.  Mason Williams, OF – Williams reminds me a little of Austin Jackson, without all the strikeouts.  He seemed to put it all together last year, hitting .349, 11 doubles, 6 triples, three homers, and stole 28 bases while driving in 31.  If he has another very good year I will find it hard not to move him up.  I can see Williams becoming the Yankees center fielder in three years.  Maybe less.  This year he should start in Tampa.  I don’t know if the Yankees will move him up to AA unless he goes bonkers in Tampa.  There is no need to rush him.  None at all.  He will be 21 in August.

5.  Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B – A lot of MLB Draftniks scratched their head when the Yankees chose Bichette so high (their first pick in the draft, 2^nd round).  Well, Bichette went nuts last year, hitting .335 with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, and drove in 48.  Not bad at all for his first taste of pro ball.  What surprised me were his 3 triples.  After the Yankees drafted him I heard the only great thing about Bichette was his power.  Well, apparently the kid can hit all around.  He will only improve on those power numbers as he develops.  Remember, this kid went from high school to pro ball and put up those numbers.  Honestly, I don’t know enough about his defense yet.  He will be 20 in September.  I can see him starting the year at Staten Island and moving up to Single A Tampa.

6.  Austin Romine, C – I have him this high because he is very close to becoming a Major Leaguer and made his debut last season with the Yankees, collecting 3 hits in 19 at-bats.  He struggled in the Majors but you have to expect some growing pains.  Besides, he has never been touted to be an offensive threat.  He will, however, be a very good Major League catcher and could hit occasionally.  What I like about Romine is he is better than Francisco Cervelli right now, both offensively and defensively.  Romine will finally get a full year at AAA with Montero now gone.  Last year he hit .279 with 13 doubles and 6 homers and drove in 48.  The defense is there.  The offense might come soon, or it might not.  Still, at worst, the Yankees have a back-up catcher in Romine that won’t embarrass you.  At best he is their starting catcher in a couple of years.

7.  Jose Campos, RHP – Campos, as most of you know, was acquired as part of the Montero trade.  His numbers in Low-A ball are pretty sick, 5-5, 2.32ERA, 81.1IP, 13BB, 85K, .214BAA.  I wrote a little about him in the trade blog post so I won’t go crazy here.  He needs some work but has an electric fastball.  I can see him starting the year in Staten Island or Tampa.  He will be just 20 in July so there is plenty of time for him to develop his other pitches.  Every time I read something on him the more I think he will end up in the bullpen.  I can see him as a closer candidate down the line.

8.  Adam Warren, RHP – Warren might be ready for the Majors right now.  He doesn’t possess overpowering stuff but pitches to contact and has seen some success from that formula.  He pitched to a 6-8, 3.60ERA, 152.1IP, 53BB, 111K, .249BAA line.  I was surprised the Yankees didn’t give him a taste of the Majors last season which leads me to believe the Yankees don’t think he can be any more than a fifth starter.  I can see him going on to have similar Major League success to Jake Westbrook.

9.  Ravel Santana, OF – I wanted to put Santana ahead of Warren but Santana is a ways away from making the Majors.  He is a toolsy kind of outfielder and I’m not a huge fan of toolsy guys in the lower minors.  He posted a stat line of .296, 11(2B), 3(3B), 9HR, 29RBI, 10SB and struck out 40 times in 185 plate appearances while walking only 17 times.  That’s 40 strikeouts in 41 games.  I’m interested to see how he develops outside of the Dominican Summer League.  The above stats are from his first stateside action in the Rookie Gulf Coast League.  I can see Santana getting to Charleston this year but I don’t think he will get to Staten Island or Tampa…not yet.

10.  Slade Heathcott, OF – The only thing Slade has known in his life is adversity.  From off the field to on the field he has battled problems.  He was an alcoholic and the Yankees had to step in and get him help.  He was deemed to have attitude problems but he is maturing now.  Now, his biggest problem is injury.  His right shoulder has had two surgeries now and has sapped a lot of his arm strength.  He seemed to finally be putting it together when he went down with the shoulder injury last year.  He posted a batting line of .279, 11(2B), 4(3B), 5HR, 17RBI which were all improvements over the previous season.  He had 5 homers across 2 levels in 53 games when the year prior he only had 2 homers in 76 games.  His batting average climbed and he was hitting for more power all around.  However, there are a few red flags about Slade that caused me to place him at number 10.  First, he strikes out a lot.  Second, his injury history is beginning to get serious.  Third, he has speed but has not shown an adeptness for stealing bags, getting caught 7 times last year while only stealing 6.  I used to be a huge fan of Slade’s, and I guess I still am, if only because I root for him to overcome adversity.  At this point, I am beginning to wonder if he will make the Major Leagues.  He needs to stay healthy.  He might start in Tampa where he appeared in 1 game before the injury occurred, or he could go back to Charleston to get his confidence up.  It will be interesting to see how the Yankees develop him.  He will be 21 this season.

10A. J.R. Murphy, C – Another one of the Yankee catchers who can hit.  The Yankees have played him in the outfield at the corners and at first and third base.  However, they say they are committing him to catcher more this year after he made improvements defensively.  He is finally starting to hit, posting .287, 29(2B), 7HR, 46RBI.  Those doubles should turn into more homers as he fills out his frame.  He is still young, he won’t turn 21 until May, so there is plenty of time for him to develop.  I can see him becoming a solid catcher or corner outfielder/infielder in the Majors.  I gave him the 10A spot because I am not so sure about Heathcott these days.  He has to prove he can stay healthy.  Murphy could catapult to the top five with a strong showing this year in Tampa.  I can see him moving up to Trenton if he does well.