What Has Caused The Turn Around of the Yankees Farm System?

Come On Up Young Bloods!

Mandatory Credit: MiLB.com

We all know the story about Mike Trout and how the Yankees almost drafted him and that irrelevant stuff because the Angels had another pick before that one and would haven used it to get him. But the side joke to this story is that if the Yankees did select Trout we all like to say he’d still be in the minors instead of currently being the best player in the game like he is in this reality.

We say this because the Yankees have a nasty habit of holding guys down in the minors for longer than needed. They’re still doing this to an extent, but like every bad trait they have to ease off of it instead of quitting cold turkey. The Yankees moved recently drafted reliever Jacob Lindgren through the system very quickly and he’s currently in Double-A Trenton and is likely to start the season in the Yankees bullpen come 2015.

Second baseman and outfielder Rob Refsynder was amazing in Double-A and quickly moved to Triple-A, where he continued to have a great season. Although he’ll stay in  the minors for the remainder of 2014, he’ll get a nice shot at a big league role come Spring Training 2015. First base powerhouse Greg Bird was moved up to Double-A along with pitching phenom Luis Severino (who moved through multiple levels this season), third baseman Dante Bichette and others. Next season possible future superstar Aaron Judge will likely start the season in Trenton after a fantastic first professional season. Ian Clarkin and Eric Jagielo have also been moved through the system quicker than previous prospects have. Next season the Yankees’ Trenton affiliate could house the system’s best first base prospect (Bird), catching prospect (Sanchez), outfield farmhand (Judge) and pitching (and overall best) minor leaguer (Severino).

More from Yankees Minor Leagues

• Reflecting on the 2013 New York Yankees’ top 10 prospects
• Yankees add to championship core with Wilmer Difo signing
• Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez ranks in tough spot on Arizona Fall League Top Prospects list
• Yankees protect only 1 top prospect from 2022 Rule 5 Draft, take major risk
• Scouts ripping Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez’s AFL performance need to get real

Severino might actually get a shot at the big leagues but that remians to be seen. Double-A Trenton would allow fans to get a good look at what the Yankees big league squad may look like in the not too distant future. Some of these young bloods might even make an appearance during the 2015 campaign. The quicker movement of prospects speaks a lot about how much better the organization’s future players are performing.