Baseball America's Yankees Top 10

[EvilEmpire]

Baseball America's top ten for the Yankees along with some additional commentary from RAB:

1.RHP Luis Severino
2.OF Aaron Judge
3.SS Jorge Mateo
4.1B Greg Bird
5.C Gary Sanchez
6.LHP Ian Clarkin
7.2B Rob Refsnyder
8.LHP Jacob Lindgren
9.C Luis Torrens
10.3B Miguel Andujar

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2015-new-york-yankees-top-10-prospects-video/
 

The Yankees did see progress in the minors, led by righthander Luis Severino, who used a powerful fastball and a well-above-average changeup to burn through both Class A levels with ease before ending the season at Double-A. The organizations trio of first-round picks from 2013third baseman Eric Jagielo, lefty Ian Clarkin and outfielder Aaron Judgeeach had positive seasons. Teenaged Dominican shortstop Jorge Mateo, the owner of the arguably best tool set in the system, dazzled in a short look before a broken left wrist ended his domestic debut season.

Mateo isnt close to being able to replace Jeter, so New York likely will have to go outside the organization for a replacement, as it had to when Robinson Cano left for Seattle last offseason. Gary Denbo, whos spent years in the Yankees system under a variety of roles, was appointed to replace Newman. Hell be charged with replacing the slew of other personnelGordon Blakeley, Pat Roessler, Trey Hillman, Butch Wynegar, Kevin Long and Mick Kelleher among themwho departed early in the offseason. More importantly, Denbo will be asked to continue the turnaround of a farm system that hasnt produced impact players capable of aiding the big league club in recent years.

http://riveraveblues.com/2014/10/luis-severino-tops-baseball-americas-top-ten-yankees-prospects-list-110015/
 

Severino and Judge are 1A and 1B in my opinion. I consider Judge the teams top prospect because of the general attrition rate of 20-year-old pitchers plus the fact that offense is the scarce commodity these days, not pitching. Thats just my opinion. Theyre both excellent and both are Yankees though, so the order doesnt really matter.

The Mateo ranking might be a bit aggressive but people have been raving about him all summer. Hes clearly one of the teams top prospects even though a hand injury limited him to only a handful of games in 2014. Bird over Sanchez seems to be based on performance as much as anything. The scouting report calls Bird an average defensive first baseman who projects to hit 18-20 homers in the big leagues, then says Sanchez can be a frontline catcher with the potential for a .280 average and 20-25 home runs annually.

A lot to like, I think, but of course the best talent is at lower levels.

 

[jon abbey]

Some of those are very low level still, but some could make an impact in the bigs next year (Refsnyder, Lindgren) and others might get a shot with injuries (Bird, Judge, Severino). 

 

[Wingack]

Finally some appealing hitters.

 

[terrynever]

Greg Bird just hit a 440-foot homer to dead center leading off bottom of second inning in AFL all-star game. Announcers were laughing about how far and hard he hit it. Hate to see these kids blocked by aging veterans.

 

[jon abbey]

Bird just took off late last season and has less than 100 ABs in AA so far, he will turn 22 next week. Tex is under contract for two more seasons, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Bird up and starting next time Tex hits the DL.

 

[Wingack]

Bird just took off late last season and has less than 100 ABs in AA so far, he will turn 22 next week. Tex is under contract for two more seasons, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Bird up and starting next time Tex hits the DL.

 
And if he outpeforms him will keep playing? This team is in such a horrible limbo area and has shown time and again they are loyal to a fault. If the team stinks and Bird is up they should let him play so he can get MLB ABs under his belt. If the team is in playoff contention and the kid is slugging I suspect they still go with their "tested guys."

 

[jon abbey]

What team benches healthy guys who are making huge salaries? It's really rare, especially during the regular season.
 
Anyway, Bird has been great the last few months, but let's see him do it for at least a few more months in the minors before we get too excited. 

 

[Wingack]

What team benches healthy guys who are making huge salaries? It's really rare, especially during the regular season.
 
Anyway, Bird has been great the last few months, but let's see him do it for at least a few more months in the minors before we get too excited. 

 
The Giants always seem to bury high priced veterans in the bullpen and they do this while winning World Series after World Series.
 
I just fear that these guys are continually going to be blocked because of a patchwork of over thirty veterans.

 

[jon abbey]

Just not too sure what that's based on, which Yankee prospects have deserved a shot in the last five years and not gotten one?
 
Betances in 2013 certainly, I'll never understand that one, but I can't think of a single positional player. You could argue they shouldn't have signed McCann (and I did) and let Murphy/Romine/Cervelli/Sanchez fight for the job, but none of those guys have really shown too much in the chances they have gotten.

 

[Wingack]

Just not too sure what that's based on, which Yankee prospects have deserved a shot in the last five years and not gotten one?
 
Betances in 2013 certainly, I'll never understand that one, but I can't think of a single positional player. You could argue they shouldn't have signed McCann (and I did) and let Murphy/Romine/Cervelli/Sanchez fight for the job, but none of those guys have really shown too much in the chances they have gotten.

 
Yeah, I don't know. I thought about this after I wrote that post and couldn't really come up with any examples. It is just the fact that they are always looking to the next experienced veteran hitting the market in order to fill holes. And once those types of guys are signed I don't really see Girardi letting them ride the pine in favor a kid who hasn't proven anything.