Yankees prospect Justus Sheffield could be the real deal

Yankees No. 4 prospect Justus Sheffield is still only 21-years-old, but if he continues to develop the tools he’s flashed in this season’s Arizona Fall League, he could be major league ready by 2019.

On Saturday night, Yankees pitching prospect Justus Sheffield started the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game for the East team.

With the juices flowing, the 5-foot-11 left-hander, who ranks as the 79th-overall prospect in baseball, allowed one run and three hits in two innings pitched.

Not his most shining moment, Sheffield has been dominant in four starts for the Scottsdale Scorpions, going 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA and a 21:2 K:BB ratio in 19 innings pitched.

Overall, Sheffield is ranked second in strikeouts and is tied for second in innings pitched during this year’s AFL.

A veteran Yankees scout recently raved to NJ.com about Sheffield’s ability on the hill and overall makeup as a hardworking young man.

"“I saw Sheffield one night where he looked like a No. 1 starter (pitching a one-hitter over five shutout innings with six strikeouts and no walks on Oct. 10). His first outing. Everything was plus that night … his fastball, slider, changeup. He was down in the zone, worked both sides, he elevated. He got chases up in the zone when he wanted. And wait until you get a chance to sit with this kid. I hear from everybody that he’s a great kid.”More from Yankees NewsYankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendarYankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielderMichael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening DayNo, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023Yankees’ Marwin González replaces Red Sox LF in Japan in logical next step"

In his final start before the “Fall Stars Game,” Sheffield tossed five scoreless frames, allowing only three hits while striking out six in an 11-3 victory over the Surprise Saguaros.

Reaching Double-A Trenton in 2017, Sheffield compiled a 7-7 record and 3.12 ERA while striking out 88 batters in 98 innings.

Since coming over to the Yankees’ organization from the Indians in the blockbuster Andrew Miller trade, Sheffield’s metrics have greatly improved.

Now topping out at 96 mph, Sheffield’s main out-pitch is an 87 mph slider that often leaves the opposition looking silly. With a changeup that sits between 86-89 mph, should he develop more consistency with his curveball this winter, there’s no reason Sheffield won’t begin 2018 at Triple-A Scranton.

Now that Masahiro Tanaka has opted into the remaining three years on his contract, the biggest remaining question mark for the big league rotation is whether or not CC Sabathia returns.

Next: Tanaka stays home

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Should the Yankees inevitably decide to sign a free agent shooter and second-year starter Jordan Montgomery gets the nod for the No. 5 slot, there will be no need to rush Sheffield through the highly competitive International League, or fellow pitching prospect Chance Adams to the Bronx.