Five Yankees Prospects Who Could Make an Impact in 2017

After selling at the trade deadline for the first time in their history, the New York Yankees have one of the best farm systems in baseball. Here are five top prospects that can make an impact as early as 2017.

The August 1st 2016 trade deadline will likely end up being viewed as one of the most important turning points in recent Yankees history. For the previous two years, the team had been attempting to straddle the line between rebuilding and contention. The simultaneous collapse of several of their former stars finally convinced ownership to blow it up and fully commit to their youth movement.

In his recent end-of-season press conference, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that the club intends to give their kids a chance in full-time roles next season rather than looking outside the organization for offensive help this winter.

Position players Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin, and Mason Williams were all given significant playing time down the stretch, and will be in the mix for starting jobs in the spring, as will rehabbing young slugger Greg Bird.

New York also made an effort to promote from within on the pitching side. When Ivan Nova was dealt and Nathan Eovaldi went down with injury, they filled their open spots by looking to the farm. Luis Cessa, Chad Green, and Bryan Mitchell all earned regular turns in the rotation in the last two months of the season.

The Yankees have shown that their “building from within” is not just talk. Minor league players can expect to be rewarded with a call up if they perform. A number of the organization’s most exciting talents are right on the cusp of the big leagues coming into next year. Here are the top five prospects most likely to have an impact in 2017.