Yankees News: Gary Sanchez Misses Out On Top 100 Lists

While the New York Yankees had two players in the MLB.com 2015 top 100 prospect list  (pitcher Luis Severino is 23rd and outfielder Aaron Judge is 68th) and three on the similar list on Scout.com (Severino at #51, Judge at #57, and first baseman Greg Bird coming in at #96) there was a notable omission.  After MLB.com ranked Gary Sanchez 69th in 2014, 27th in 2013, 36th in 2012, and 34th in 2011, they have left him off the list for the first time since the creation of the list, which coincided with his $3 million signing.  Sanchez is the Yankees top catching prospect, and was expected to reach the majors as early as 2014, but the signing of Brian McCann combined with minor league struggles has kept Sanchez from making his major league debut with the Yankees, and could delay the process to 2016, if at all.

Although Sanchez has been a constant on such lists since his signing, he is still only 22, and won’t be 23 until December, so one would be foolish to write him off.  If Sanchez continues his development, he could reach the Bronx as soon as 2015, as he is slated to start as the Triple-A catcher this year.  While his path to the MLB may appear blocked with McCann at catcher, Mark Teixeira at first, and the DH spot needed for aging veterans, it is not.  Teixeira is not the guy he used to be, and probably cannot be trusted to avoid the DL, and the same goes for all of the DH options.

If Sanchez is hitting well against Triple-A pitching, he could force the Yankees’ hand into giving him some big league at-bats.  The Yankees would be smart to keep him down at Scranton barring injury, as at his young age he should be getting regular at-bats.  Maybe he could even be a September call-up when the Triple-A season ends, and major league rosters expand.  If Sanchez is a hard worker, then this list will only motivate him to work even harder next season.

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I do think MLB.com was right to leave Sanchez off the list as he has not shown much improvement since 2012.  A lot of that has to do with moving up to advanced minor league levels, and facing tougher pitching, but after finishing 2013 in Double-A, and spending all of 2014 there, Sanchez should have been able to adjust better.  Hopefully in 2015, Sanchez will be able to be more like the player he was in 2012.

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