How are Yankees' top 10 prospects performing so far?

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The New York Yankees’ farm system is teeming with talent and, like the big-league club, trudging through its share of injuries. Three of their top 10 prospects are shelved for the year, but the deep system keeps churning out more players that can help the club contend.

Here’s an update on the Yankees young commodities (ranked by MLB.com):

1. Gleyber Torres

Stats: .287/.383/.480, 202 AB, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 30 BB, 47 K, five errors, 55 games between Double-A and Triple-A

Outlook: Torres was a near-lock to make his major-league debut this season until a freak injury on a head-first slide required Tommy John surgery. His bat flourished at every level, but the Yankees wanted Torres, a natural shortstop, to improve his defense at second and third base. With current third baseman Chase Headley underwhelming in the Bronx, Torres’ most available path was to take over at the hot corner.

The Yankees have lost Torres for the remainder of the year, but GM Brian Cashman is optimistic about Torres returning by the start of Spring Training, coincidentally when Headley will be entering the final year of his $52 million contract.

2. Clint Frazier

Stats: .257/.345/.474, 272 AB, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 37 BB, 68 K, 73 games at Triple-A

Outlook: After buzzing his locks and impressing the front office with his work in the upper minors, Frazier is on his way to Houston to join the Yankees. Even with a full starting outfield that includes Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and MVP candidate Aaron Judge, manager Joe Girardi says Frazier won’t ride the bench when he arrives.

“If you bring up a player you foresee as an everyday player, he will play,” Girardi hinted.

It’s possible Girardi will rotate his outfielders to divvy out at-bats and keep the veterans rested. With Torres out, the prospect hype machine will hone in on the redhead with what Cashman called “legendary” bat speed.

3. Blake Rutherford

Stats: .270/.336/.377, 215 AB, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 16 2B, 23 BB, 50 K, 56 games at Class-A

Outlook: The Yankees’ first-round pick in the 2016 Draft continues to hit. The power is developing, and as Rutherford progresses, the expectation is that some of those doubles will turn into homers. The 20-year-old outfielder is far from The Show, but MLB.com offers a tantalizing scouting report on how Rutherford’s left-handed swing will fit Yankee Stadium:

“…Rutherford is a rare talent who has the chance to hit for plus average and power. He has a smooth left-handed stroke with plenty of bat speed, recognizes pitches well, shows signs of patience and uses the entire field. While he currently employs a line-drive approach, he has big raw power and will tap into it once he adds some loft to his swing.”

Mar 12, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Jorge Mateo (93) runs back to the dugout against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jorge Mateo

Stats: .246/.303/.400, 285 AB, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 21 BB, 84 K, 29 steals, 72 games between High-A and Double-A

Outlook: Poor production, alleged attitude issues and the arrival of Torres has ripped the “Shortstop of the Future” title away from Mateo. He has elite speed, but the hits have been sparse, the strikeouts are too high, and the walks are too low, impeding his ability to wreak havoc on the base paths.

Starlin Castro‘s trip to the disabled list with a hamstring injury opened the door for Mateo’s recent promotion to Double-A. The fleet-footed Dominican native has collected four hits, five walks, and a stolen base in three games there. A hot streak right before the trade deadline could recapture interest from clubs.

5. James Kaprielian

Stats: N/A

Outlook: Kaprielian’s future is a mystery. The righty spent most of last season rehabbing an elbow injury, thus only pitching 27 innings. The rehab didn’t work, ultimately forcing him to get Tommy John surgery. That’s now two lost seasons of development for Kap.

6. Justus Sheffield

Stats: 7-5, 3.14 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 8.9 H/9, 3.1 BB/9, 1.3 HR/9, 86 IP, 15 games (15 starts) at Double-A

Outlook: Sheffield, brought over with Frazier when the Yankees traded Andrew Miller to the Indians, has posted solid numbers since joining the org. He went 6 1/3 innings in his most recent start with Trenton, whiffing six while allowing one earned run.

In all likelihood, Sheffield’s ETA is 2018. The Yankees are encouraged by his work on the mound, but with fellow prospect Chance Adams a step ahead in Triple-A, they can afford to not rush Sheffield’s development.

7. Chance Adams

Stats: 9-2, 1.74 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 5.2 H/9, 3.6 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9, 82 2/3 IP, 15 games (15 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A

Outlook: In the midst of a big season, Adams isn’t far from reaching the big leagues. Walks and longevity are his Achilles heel, which the Yankees hope get ironed out soon in the Minors. CC Sabathia is nearing his return from the DL, which leaves no room for Adams right now unless another injury strikes or the Yankees go to a six-man rotation.

Jun 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Dustin Fowler (34) lays on the ground after colliding with the wall in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Dustin Fowler

Stats: .293/.329/.542, 297 AB, 13 HR, 43 RBI, 15 BB, 63 K, 70 games at Triple-A

Outlook: A solid season for a promising prospect ended in heartbreak Thursday night. Fowler ruptured the patellar tendon in his knee after colliding with an electrical box on the short right field wall at Guaranteed Rate Field. Post-op, Fowler told the Post the surgery went successfully and, best-case scenario, he could return by spring training.

9. Miguel Andújar

Stats: .314/.348/.496, 280 AB, 8 HR, 54 RBI, 15 BB, 42 K, 75 games between Double-A and Triple-A; 3-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI in MLB debut

Outlook: It’s a tough break when you set a Yankee record with three hits and four RBIs in your debut, then get optioned to Triple-A the next day. The organization loves Andújar’s bat but prefers he polish his defense with everyday reps at third base. If that progress happens, Andújar could return and rival Headley for playing time.

10. Albert Abreu

Stats: 1-3, 3.82 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 8.1 H/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9, 37 2/3 IP, nine games (8 starts) between Low-A and High-A

Outlook: Abreu is one of two pitching prospects the Yankees received when they sent Brian McCann to Houston over the winter. The hard-throwing righty showed promise last season in 24 appearances (16 starts) and has continued his success with the Yanks’ Class-A affiliates. Here’s what MLB.com has to say about him:

“Abreu has the potential to become a frontline starter, but he also gave a glimpse of his upside as a reliever by recording a 0.65 ERA and a .481 opponents’ OPS in eight bullpen appearances last year. New York plans on keeping him in the rotation, and his quick arm and sound delivery fit in that role. To stay there, he’ll need to improve his control and command while refining his secondary offerings.”

Next: Yanks react to Fowler's gruesome injury

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How are Yankees’ top 10 prospects performing so far?