New York Yankees Prospect Profile Number 11: Jacob Lindgren

"As we continue along with the Yanks Go Yard Prospect Profile series, we move down the MLB pipeline to the 11th-ranked prospect for the New York Yankees, Jacob Lindgren.Scouting grades (courtesy of MLB Pipeline): Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50"

23-year-old lefty reliever Jacob Lindgren, nicknamed “The Strikeout Factory” by his college teammates, was the Yankees second round selection, 55th overall, in the 2014 amateur draft. Lindgren has lived up to his moniker thus far in his professional career, striking out an impressive 14.3 per nine innings during three minor league seasons. His best weapon is a vicious sweeping mid-80’s slider that he pairs with a low 90’s fastball that can occasionally touch 95.
Lindgren tore through the lower minors, reaching Double-A in under two months with the club. He cracked the big league roster less than a year after being drafted. The results of his MLB debut were mixed, perhaps due to a bone spur in his left elbow that would eventually require surgery in June of 2015. The procedure would sideline the lefty for the remainder of the campaign.

Expected by many to be a favorite for one of several open bullpen spots coming into spring training, Lindgren received a surprise demotion to minor league camp during the first round of roster cuts. He has always had below average control, as his 5.3 BB/9 will attest to, but things were out of control in his first appearances of the spring. The first member of the 40 man roster to be sent down in March, he never seemed to receive serious consideration to join the major league squad.

That may partially have been because the team wanted to give Lindgren time to work his way back from his elbow issue in a low stress environment. He was sent all the way back to High-A Tampa to begin the 2016 season. Even with that low level of competition, Lindgren struggled. His ERA of 2.57 and K/9 of 10.3 were both acceptable, but his 11.6 BB/9 was a huge red flag.

On April 25, Lindgren was placed on the minor league disabled list with an undisclosed elbow injury. Because we receive far less information about the injuries of minor league players, it is difficult to say exactly how serious this issue will end up being. Any elbow injury to a young pitcher immediately evokes fears of the dreaded Tommy John, although we saw with Ian Clarkin last season that the Yankees are willing to go the rehab route in certain cases with their pitching prospects rather than put them under the knife.

Whenever he does take the mound again, Lindgren’s control issues are a real impediment to him achieving his ceiling as a relief ace at the major league level. We’ve seen both Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman be elite relievers while walking over four players per nine, but anything above that is getting into Carlos Marmol territory. Given his outstanding stuff and pedigree, Lindgren will be given every chance to reach his potential.

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