Meet the 2016 Pulaski Yankees

The Pulaski Yankees of the short season Appalachian League have announced their roster for the 2016 season. Opening Day is set for Thursday against the Danville Braves.

Coaches

Manager Tony Franklin spent eight years at the helm of the Double-A Trenton Thunder before taking over for the Pulaski Yankees last season. He had a nine year minor league career as an infielder for the Reds, Cubs, and Expos. Hitting coach Edwar Gonzalez played nine seasons in the Yankees’ system, reaching Triple-A Scranton in 2010. Defensive coach Hector Rabago is also a former Yankees farmhand, playing catcher, third base, and second base in the organization from 2009-2013. Butch Henry will take over pitching coach duties for Pulaski after serving that role for the Staten Island Yankees last season. The former major league pitcher managed the Yankees GCL affiliate in 2014.

Catchers

Both Pulaski backstops played for the Yankees in the Gulf Coast League in 2015. Victor Rey hit .279/.407/.393 in 151 PA, while Brian Reyes had a .289/.337/.368 slash line in 84 PA. Rey is entering his fifth season in the Yankees system, and Reyes his fourth.

Infielders

Ranked the fifth overall prospect in the New York Yankees system by MLB Pipeline, shortstop Wilkerman Garcia will arguably be the most exciting player to take the field for the Pulaski Yankees this season. Despite just turning 18, Garcia has an advanced approach at the plate and impressive contact ability. He hit .299/.414/.362 in 158 PA split between the Dominican Summer League and the GCL in 2015. While he still needs to add muscle to his wiry frame, Garcia seems like a good bet to end up as a five tool player because of his plus hit tool, excellent speed, and cannon arm.

He will be joined in the infield by another member of the Yankees’ notorious 2014 international spending spree, third baseman Dermis Garcia. Given a hefty $3,000,000 bonus as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Garcia struggled in his first taste of professional ball last season, batting just .159/.256/.188 in 78 GCL PA while missing some time with injury. Despite his immense raw power, he has yet to hit a home run in the minors. As disappointing as the season was, Garcia remains an extremely gifted athlete, and this could be the year that he begins to translate his abilities into performance on the field.

2016 Yankees ninth round pick Tim Lynch, a first baseman from Southern Mississippi, middle infielder Welfrin Mateo, and 23-year-old corner infielder Kevin Cornelius, who split last year between Staten Island and the GCL, round out the rest of the infield.

Outfielders

Many evaluators think toolsy teenager Estevan Florial might be the Yankees prospect most likely to shoot up into top ten lists by this time next season. In April, Ben Badler of Baseball America listed Florial as one of the top twenty prospects to watch from the Dominican and Venezuelan Summer Leagues last season. Here’s what he had to say about Florial:

“Florial has outstanding tools, with scouts hanging 70s on his speed and arm strength in center field. He has good bat speed and plus raw power, ranking second in the league in slugging. He uses the middle of the field and hit home runs to all parts of the park last summer.”

Ben Ruta, the Yankees 30th round selection in the 2016 amateur draft, hit .327/.412/.469 in 51 games for Wagner College this season. Andy Diaz and Isiah Gilliam will join him in the Pulaski outfield after spending 2015 in the GCL.

Pitchers

The Pulaski Yankees will carry 18 pitchers on their staff, most notably 2015 second round pick Jeff Degano, who MLB Pipeline ranked as the 23rd best prospect in the Yankees system before the season. At 23, Degano is a little old for the level because he missed most of the 2013 and 2014 seasons following Tommy John surgery. The big lefty has a low-90’s fastball, a low 80’s slurve, and a change that is a work in progress. He split last year between the GCL and Staten Island, although he only pitched 21.1 innings combined.

Also worth watching is 2016 fourth-rounder Nick Nelson, a junior college arm from Gulf Coast State who recently signed for $350,000. Icezack Flemming, who has an argument for the best name in the Yankees system, and perhaps all of baseball, will return for his second season with Pulaski. The rest of the staff includes Chad Martin, Rafael Lara, Juan Jimenez, Julian Aybar, Aabel Duarte, Zach Wasserman, Alex Bisacca, Spencer Mahoney, Phllip Diehl, Braden Bristo, Miles Chambers, Greg Weissert, Will Jones, Tyler Honahan, and Cody Hamlin.