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Yankees News: MLB.com releases Yankees Top 30 prospects list

By Caleb Gebrewold

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MLB.com has released their list of the top 30 prospects in the New York Yankees organization.  The first thing that jumps out upon viewing this list is how far catcher Gary Sanchez has fallen in terms of his ranking within the organization.  Last year, they had Sanchez second overall to starting pitcher Luis Severino, and, in 2013, he was first overall.

While this by no means says that Sanchez is no longer capable of being a major league star, it shows how far the Yankees system has climbed in a short amount of time.  While Severino has kept his top spot, right fielder Aaron Judge, shortstop Jorge Mateo, first baseman Greg Bird, second baseman Rob Refsnyder, and left-handed starter Ian Clarkin have all passed Sanchez as well.

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The part about this that should excite Yankee fans is that they are all relatively young, as mostly all have entered the organization in 2012 or 2013 and are just getting accustomed to professional ball.  Another exciting thing is the variety in where these prospects play.  In case you haven’t been taking notes, in the top seven prospects alone, you have two starters, almost an entire infield, and an outfielder.  Add in third baseman Eric Jagielo at eighth and the future infield could already be in the organization.

Jacob Lindgren, who could debut in 2015, checks in at number nine, while Luis Torrens, who will miss all of 2015 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, rounds out the top ten.

Recently acquired Domingo German is high on the list, at number 12.  German has had a very impressive minor league career to date, and I could see him rising up the list very quickly.  He has the potential to be the most important piece in the deal which brought Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones to the Bronx.

Jose Pirela, who is fighting for a roster spot, is ranked a low 25th.  While most scouts around baseball are said to prefer Pirela over Refsnyder, the folks at MLB.com seem to differ.  While Pirela, 25, is older than Refsnyder, 23, he seems more major league ready, and should not be ranked 20 spots lower than Refsnyder.  Even if Refsnyder is the better prospect, he is not better by 20 spots.

Another interesting thing is that, similar to Sanchez, outfielders Mason Williams, Tyler Austin and Slade Heathcott continue to fall.  Williams, the second highest ranked prospect in the organization in 2013, dropped to 16th last season, and 27th this year.  Austin, who was third in 2013, dropped to 15th last year, and 18th this year.

Heathcott’s fall has been the steepest, as he was ranked seventh in 2013, unranked in last season’s list of twenty, and failed to make the list once again, even with the expansion to thirty prospects.  While Heathcott has been healthy this spring, and productive, he has a long way to go if he wants to become the player many expected him to become following his strong 2012.

While not all prospects pan out, the Yankees have plenty to look forward to in the minor leagues.  They have spent recent years attempting to rebuild the farm system, and it is clearly paying off.

Next: Why Next Week Is Very Important For The Yankees Season

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