New York Yankees Editorial: The Five Prospects Who Improved the Yankees Farm System

Since the draft of 2005 when the Yankees drafted Brett Gardner, there is not a single player who is an everyday starter for the Yankees. That has now changed for the better. The Yankees are developing lots of position players, and great pitching prospects.

Currently there are only four active players that are playing everyday in major league baseball that came from the Yankee farm system. Besides Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson is the only active player in baseball that the Yankees drafted. The only player that has become an all-star from the system was Robinson Cano. He was not drafted by the Yankees, but signed out of the Dominican Republic. The other player signed internationally was Melky Cabrera.

The Yankees for the last few years have made an effort to make the farm system a strength. Instead of trading prospects for current major league players, the Yankees decided to keep the players. Not trading these prospects have made the farm system very strong. The Yankees will have eight legitimate prospects in Triple A or Double A. The only position they do not have in Double A or higher is the shortstop position.

These five players on this slide show are proof on how the Yankee system has vastly improved.

1. Luis Severino

Severino is the Yankees best pitching prospect. Scouts rave about his poise and his tremendous upside. Scouts believe he can be a number 2 starter in a rotation, and at worst, a number 3 starter.

‘He has as easy a 95-97 [mph] fastball as you will ever see,’ a scout said. ‘His off speed stuff needs more consistency, but it is in there and he is still just 21. He’s got No. 2 upside and should at least be a quality No. 3 starter. Hands down the best starter in the system.’ ‘I love the stuff, the poise, the feel for pitching and the ability to throw down in the zone,’ another scout said.’ There is zero doubt he is better than guys who are in the [Yankees] rotation now.’

Luis Severino has developed, and is starting to push to make it on the major league roster. Currently, Severino is playing for Triple A Scranton, and has looked very good. If the Yankees deal with some starting pitching injury, Severino will get a good look to start a couple of games for the Yankees this year.

2. Aaron Judge

Judge is a 6 foot 7 inch outfielder, and has light tower power. Judge will play in the futures game this year, and many believe will be a major factor next season for the Yankees. Judge has been compared to Giancarlo Stanton, and Dave Winfield.

‘I love the kid’s makeup, but there are just so few 6-7 players to compare him against that I hesitate to guarantee he will be a star,’ one scout says. ‘The power is outrageous’

Aaron Judge started the year in Double A, and mashed the competition. He was called up early in June to Triple A. With all the injuries that have happened to the outfield, Judge could be the next in line to be called up. Most likely Judge will be a factor on next year’s roster. Judge will also be great in the outfield with a cannon for an arm, just like Stanton on the Marlins.

3. Gary Sanchez

It feels like the Yankees, and the media have been talking about Sanchez forever. Sanchez is still in his early twenties, even though he has been talked about for years. Sanchez’s main problem was maturity, and this year he has taken major strides and started to mature.

Brian Cashman and the Yankees  always knew Gary Sanchez’s bat would play in the major league level. The question was with his glove, and maturity. Sanchez has started to mature as a baseball player, and has become better behind the plate. They way he has improved being a catcher is with his flexibility. Since his flexibility is better at receiving low strikes, and just generally better at being a catcher. The Yankees now believe he can be a catcher at the next level if he keeps working at becoming better defensively. Sanchez is currently hurt with a knuckle injury. There is no time-table for him to return, but hopefully he continues to improve his overall game.

Sanchez is supposed to join Aaron Judge in the MiLB Futures Game.

5. Jake Cave

Many believe Cave will not be an everyday starting outfielder. What people love is his toughness and grit. Many scouts have compared him to Brett Gardner, who drew similar comparisons in terms of future projection.

‘I know a lot of scouts will put him in as a backup outfielder,’ a scout said. ‘But he is a smart, confident player who, I think, will develop some power and start.’

Brian Cashman always kept Brett Gardner on the Yankees, even when most people thought the Yankees should trade him for some old veteran. Cashman stuck to his guns with Gardner because he is a blue-collared hard nose player. That is what Jack Cave’s style as a baseball player is as well. Cave may not the most talented, but will be in the major leagues, and will be a factor whether it’s with the Yankees or not.

The Yankees have replenished their farm system, and it looks as strong as it ever has been. The Yankee dynasty in the late 90s happened because of a great farm system. The core 4 were all Yankee prospects. This group of young talented players can be the next group for the next Yankees dynasty. All of them will not make it on the Yankees, but a core will be built. What the Yankees have done gives hope that the future of the Bronx Bombers will be stronger than ever.

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