Yankees final farm report: The summer is ending but not the harvest

(8) SP Jorge Guzman: 21/Staten Island

2.03/1.01/78/16

His early season success and 105 MPH fastball showed promise by mid-season. Guzman has continued to fulfill his tantalizing potential and sits with a 2.03 ERA and a WHIP of 1.01 in his 51.2 IP. And of course Jorge has thrown 78 strikeouts in those fewer than 52 innings pitched.

Guzman has hopefully shown he has found consistency and will be a rapid riser next year, perhaps ala Jordan Montgomery. Unless he gets injured, Guzman will get a chance to show his heater next spring and again in September 2018. If he grows into a big league role before that, it will show a growth that might win the Yankees Best in Show.

(7) SP Domingo Acevedo: 23/Trenton

3.25/1.20/142/34

I am happily married and had to learn the hard way that I make many, many mistakes. That brings us to Domingo number two. Last month, in the heat of the trading deadline and the face of little improvement by Acevedo, I wrote that he was not likely to ever reach his potential.

Some readers took exception. They questioned how I could question Domingo’s future progress. Well, Acevedo must really like that guy because he seems to have turned a corner right after being defended.

Domingo has always been a hard thrower, which means he dominated the lower levels with one pitch. That meant he was always going to project at least as a quality reliever. But the dream, for both he and the Yankees, was as a starter.

Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down

But when Acevedo began this year by posting a 4.57 ERA at Tampa, and a similar 4.38 in his brief stint at Scranton, it looked that Acevedo was less likely to fulfill his potential than Sheffield or Tate. That no longer looks the case.

Domingo has now thrown 79.1 innings and put up a 2.38 ERA. His strikeouts are down but still exceptional (82), while his walks (17) and hits (65) show an under control pitcher. As in under control by the Yankees for a long time.

Acevedo will bring his strong right arm to the Yankees bullpen in September and to Scranton next year. He probably needs another full year in the minors but there is a strong possibility that Acevedo turns into a powerful front line pitcher.

If not, he will still contribute to the Yankees out of the bullpen for years to come.