Yankees top-10 prospects named by Baseball America

Baseball America recently released their bi-annual ranking for the Yankees top-10 minor league prospects. Unsurprisingly, pitcher Justus Sheffield remained No.1 since July’s previous list was published.

When it comes to ranking prospects, there are a number of go-to outlets that each have their own variables for deciding the best-of-the-best within a particular organization’s farm system. So as we wait for MLB Pipeline, Baseball Prospectus, and others to release their findings, Baseball America is the first to announce the Yankees top-10 prospects following the completion of the 2018 season.

Left-hander, Justus Sheffield, who was ranked as the 47th-best prospect in Baseball America’s midseason report of the top-100 prospects in the game, stayed strong as the Yanks’ No. 1 minor league asset.

After only five Double-A starts, Sheffield was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he went 6-4 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .204 BAA and 84:36 K:BB ratio across 88 innings.

The 22-year-old made his major league debut in September out of the bullpen, allowing three runs on four hits while walking three in 2.2 innings. Despite his rough first taste of primetime, it’s likely that the Yankees give Sheffield a legitimate chance of winning a backend rotation spot this spring.

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Coming in at No. 2 is 20-year-old center fielder, Estevan Florial. A broken hamate bone cost Florial all but 84 games between the Gulf Coast League and High-A Tampa in ’18.

While Florial’s results were a mixed bag, he was recently named to the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game; although if you look at this stats, this designation may have more to do with his potential rather than actual production: .164/.274/.278 slash with six runs scored, two doubles, two triples, seven RBIs and 20 strikeouts in 54 at-bats.

At No. 3 is right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, who had a brief but exciting start to major league life before injury struck. Making the jump directly from Double-A Trenton in June, Loaisiga went 2-0 in four starts (nine appearances) while putting together a 33:12 K:BB ratio across 24.2 innings.

Everson Pereira comes in a No. 4. The 17-year-old outfielder hit .263 with 21 runs scored, eight doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs in 41 games with Pulaski of the Appalachian League. Pereira will need to cut down on his 60 strikeouts in 167 at-bats.

The recently drafted Anthony Seigler can be found at No. 5. The switch-hitting catcher, who also happens to be an ambidextrous relief pitcher, combined to play in 24 Rookie-level games, hitting a combined .266/.379/.342 with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one homer and 14 walks in 79 at-bats.

Prospects six through 10, in order, include outfielder Antonio Cabello, right-handers Michael King, Deivi Garcia, Roansy Contreras and Albert Abreu.