Yankees prospect Tyler Wade makes all KATOH team

On February 8, Chris Mitchell of Fangraphs released his 2018 Top 100 KATOH Prospects.  Unsurprisingly, Yankees prospects Gleyber Torres (#14) and Chance Adams (#62) are on the list, as they have been on many top 100 prospect lists this season.

The surprise on the KATOH list was infielder Tyler Wade (#26), who has not shown up on any other of the lists. Yankees fans have reason to be excited about this recognition for Wade.

Wade is one of a corps of infielders, including Gleyber Torres, Ronald Torreyes, Danny Espinosa, and Jace Peterson vying for a spot in the infield, either at second base or as the utility infielder.

With Torres expected to win the job at second base, but to start the season in the minors for a number of reasons — four men will likely be doing battle for one utility role.

KATOH is a projection system which uses a minor leaguer’s performance to estimate the likelihood that he’ll achieve specific major league outcomes. Using what appears to me as alien, rocket science, KATOH produces a WAR forecast for a player’s first six major league seasons.

KATOH incorporates age, offensive performance, defensive performance and other characteristics from the past two seasons. Wade is projected to have a WAR of 7.3 in the big leagues.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Should Yankees toss short-term extension at Harrison Bader before 2023?
• Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
• Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)

Wade posted a slash line of .310/.460/.842 with seven home runs and 31 RBI in 2017 in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His weak offensive (.155/.222/.224) showing with the Yankees last season would not be taken into consideration for the KATOH projections, which are based solely on minor league statistics.

Most of the other top 100 best prospect lists depend heavily on scouting, while KATOH focuses on statistical performance.

The All KATOH Team, by Chris Mitchell of Fangraphs is made up of players, like Wade, who were excluded from the other top 100 lists. Mitchell says of these players:

These players have performed in a way that usually portends big league success. yet, for one reason or another, each has been overlooked by prospect evaluators.

Yankee fans have not overlooked Wade, who had a stellar year at Triple-A in 2017, despite struggling in the big leagues. However, there is plenty of upside for Wade going into 2018, as is clear from the KATOH selection.

Wade is an excellent defender with good range with great hands. He’s versatile and in ’17 at Triple-A, played every position besides pitcher, catcher and first base. His left-handed bat would also provide balance in manager Aaron Boone’s lineup, which is a little heavy with right-handers.

Speed is Wade’s best tool as he stole 26 bases in Triple-A last season. Speed is one of the missing elements of the current Yankees’ roster with the exceptions of Gardner and Ellsbury, who will not be an everyday player.

Next: What the Yanks' lineup might look like

With a combination of good defense, versatility and speed, Wade makes a good case for a job in 2018 — and he has KATOH to thank for bringing his value to everyone’s attention.