Five Yankees Rookies Who Will Have Big Roles In 2015

The Yankees are at a crossroads. They have needs that they will address via free agency, but they have others that can be addressed internally, which is a good thing because of their lack of payroll flexibility.

They need a shortstop and a starting pitcher, both of which will likely be acquired. Other than those two positions, the team has a fair amount of pieces already in place.

Mark Teixeira will be the starting first baseman, Brian McCann will catch, Jacoby Ellsbury will man center field, Brett Gardner will play left field, and Carlos Beltran will be in the lineup in some form or another, as will Martin Prado. The only positions that are uncertain are second and third base (one of which will likely be filled by Prado and the other by Alex Rodriguez or Chase Headley), shortstop, and parts of the bullpen. 

More from Yankees News

• Diamondbacks outfielder’s comment on Carlos Rodón’s IG raises eyebrows
• Aaron Judge Time interview scared Yankees as much as it scared you
• Why weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?
• Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in Boston
• Yankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for Pirates

Most of those roles will be filled by players within the organization, many of them by rookies.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Infield

Jose Pirela: He hit extremely well during his short stint in the Bronx during the 2014 season (.333/.360/.542) and will look to play an even bigger part as a member of the 2015 Yankees.

Though he’s mainly a second baseman, the 24-year-old Pirela can play almost anywhere. During the 2014 season as a member of the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Railriders, he played games at first base, second base,  shortstop, and all three outfield positions.

When the 2015 season begins, Pirela will likely be used as a super-utility man, who will play a number of different positions. There will be days when he will be filling in for Martin Prado, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and maybe even Carlos Beltran on occasion.

Another potential option is for him to be the starting second baseman.

If Headley and Stephen Drew sign elsewhere, and it’s decided that Rodriguez isn’t healthy enough to play third base on a regular basis, Martin Prado could step up as the everyday third baseman, which would likely leave a hole at second base which would mean that Pirela could slide into the everyday lineup.

Bullpen

Jacob Lindgren: The team’s first pick (second round) in this past June draft, this southpaw may very well wind up being the first 2014 draftee to reach the big leagues.

Lindgren made four stops in the Yankees’ minor league system this past season, and ended up in Double-A. Overall, he posted a 2.16 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP, a .135 batting average against, and an astonishing K/9 rate of 17.3 (48 in 25 innings pitched).

He throws two pitches, a fastball and a slider. Per reports, his fastball sits between 91-95 miles per hour and both pitches have tons of movement.

There was some debate as to whether or not Lindgren should’ve been promoted to the Major Leagues when the rosters expanded in September, but the Yankees decided not to. However, that could change very soon.

With a strong Spring Training, we might see Lindgren on the opening day roster as he could be a key player in the Yankees’ bullpen in 2015.

James Pazos: A former 13th round draft pick (2012), Pazos posted a 2.42 ERA (1.50 after joining the Trenton Thunder), a 1.13 WHIP, and struck out more than a batter per inning (75 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched.)

According to Brooks Baseball Blog, Pazos’ fastball has an average speed of 93 miles per hour and with his delivery, it is harder for some hitters. He also features a slider and a changeup.

One problem that might arise for Pazos in terms of making the opening day roster, is that it’s unclear how many lefties Girardi will carry, which could mean he goes to Triple-A for a little while.

Whether he makes the team out of Spring Training or not, he could see some time with the big club in 2015.

Rotation/Bullpen

Bryan Mitchell: After a strong showing in Triple-A, Mitchell joined the Yankees late in the season and was quite impressive. He posted a 2.45 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 3 games (1 start).

In his one start, he held the Orioles to only two runs over five innings pitched.

His average fastball speed ranges from 91-94 miles per hour. He also features a cutter and a curveball.

If last season was any indication of what he can do, he certainly has a future in the Yankees’ rotation. However, he may not crack the rotation at the start of 2015.

Though he will likely wind up in the bullpen for part of 2015, he can make an occasional start if needed.