Yankees Prospect Profile: Justus Sheffield

Outfielder Clint Frazier was the headliner of the Andrew Miller deal, but pitcher Justus Sheffield is a key piece of the Yankees future.

When the Cleveland Indians decided to pull the trigger on a deal for closer Andrew Miller, they knew it’d be a steep price, and promptly handed over top prospect Clint Frazier. The other key piece in the deal was left-hander pitcher Justus Sheffield, and he’s got the tools to become a member of the Yankees rotation of the future.

Sheffield is the organization’s top pitching prospect, coming in at #7 overall, according to MLB Pipeline. He’s already moved ahead of the now-injured arm of James Kaprielian, who is the #10 ranked prospect.

The Cleveland Indians selected Sheffield with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2014 Draft. He made it up to the Advanced A-ball level of the minor leagues this season, but has spent most of his pro career with the Low-A Lake County Captains.

In 127.2 innings pitched, the lefty struck out 138 batters while crafting an ERA of 3.31. He gave up 135 hits in this timeframe, which is a bit disconcerting, but he’s just 20 years old and while have time to work on this.

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Before the trade, Sheffield was a member of the Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats, where he started 19 games, limiting opponents to a .252 batting average. In his arsenal, he has a fastball with exceptional movement that can touch 95-96, and a curve that has the ability to truly make hitters miss.

Much like current Yankees starters Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi, Sheffield can flat out pitch. However, it’s the location that sometimes causes problems. In the minors, Sheffield has experienced control issues, and once he harnesses them, he should rise through the system with ease.

In his first start with the Advanced-A Tampa Yankees, he made a quite the impression, striking out eleven, allowing just two hits in six innings pitched.

Sheffield is an exciting up and coming arm in the Yankees’ system. He doesn’t quite have the makings of an ace, but they call them prospects for a reason. He has a high powered arm and has the potential to develop into a valuable arm for the Yankees’ future.

Next: Yankees Face Uncertain Future at 1st Base

If he didn’t have potential, the Yankees’ wouldn’t have traded Andrew Miller for him.