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Five Yankees Prospects Who Could Make an Impact in 2017

By Brendan Smith

Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; USA outfielder Clint Frazier hits a RBI double in the third inning during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; USA outfielder Clint Frazier hits a RBI double in the third inning during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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June 9, 2013; Cary, NC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery delivers a pitch against the North Carolina Tarheels during the Chapel Hill Super Regional at Boshamer Stadium. The South Carolina Gamecocks won 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Jordan Montgomery

Another solid but unspectacular prospect who had a break-out year in 2016, Jordan Montgomery pitched at Double-A for most of the year, but ended the season in Triple-A. Montgomery posted his best numbers yet, combining for a 14-5 record with a 2.13 ERA in 139.1 innings. In six starts at Triple-A, Montgomery allowed just four earned runs in 37 innings, good for a 0.97 ERA.

He was so good with Scranton that he started the Triple-A version of the World Series, The Governor’s Cup, which Scranton won. A lefty from the University of South Carolina, Montgomery pairs his 90-94 MPH sinking fastball with an above-average changeup, mixing them effectively.

Expect Montgomery to begin the year back in Scranton, one phone call away from making a spot-start in the Bronx. Montgomery was a 4th round draft pick after serving as the ace of South Carolina’s staff in his sophomore and junior seasons.

Scouts have been impressed by Montgomery’s new-found velocity, and believe that, along with his ability to repeat his delivery, will keep Montgomery as a starter at the next level.

Next: These Yankees are Primed for Breakouts in 2017

Montgomery profiles best as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but scouts do believe that his increased velocity could propel him to the level of a mid-rotation starter, something the Yankees clearly lacked last year.

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